'ARTMENT OF COl 

BUREAU OF FISHERIES 

OEOROB M. BOWERS. Commtaslonar 



.ABOR 



THE GOLDEN TROUT OF THE SOUTHERN 
HIGH SffiRRAS 



FROM BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
Volome XXV, 1905, Pages 1 ta 51, PlaUs I to XVII 



ISSUED MAY 11, I'^Ou 




WASHINGTON 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR 
BUREAU OF FISHERIES 

GEORGE M. BOWERS. Commissioner 



THE GOLDEN TROUT OF THE SOUTHERN 
HIGH SIERRAS 



FROM BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF HSHERIES 
Volume XXV, 1905, Pages 1 to 51, Plates I to XVU 



ISSUED MAY l*". l'>Ob 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1906 






GUft 

Carnegie Museum Pittsburg Pa. 
Nov. 16, .1928 



THE GOLDEN TROUT OF THE SOUTHERN HIGH SIERRAS 



By BARTON WARREN EVERMANN 

Assistant in Charge of Di<vision of Scientific Inquiry, Bureau of Fisheries 



B. n. F. 1905—1 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction 

Streams and lakes examined 

Kaweah River 

Middle Fork 

North Fork 

East Fork 

South Fork 

Tule River 

Middle Fork 

Kern River 

Kern Lake 

Little Kern River 

Wet Meadow Creek 

Soda Creek 

Coyote Creek 

Whitney Creek 

Rock Creek 

Volcano Creek : 

South Fork of Kern River 

Cottonwood Creek 

The fishes of the Kern River region 

Suckers, chubs, etc 

Trout 

Kern River trout 

Golden trout of Soda Creek 

Golden trout of South Fork of Kern River , 

(lolden trout of Volcano Creek 

Recommendations for protection 

Shasta trout 

Cut-throat trout 

Introduction of trout into streams of the southern High Sierras. 

Temperatvire conditions in the Kern River region 

The food of the trout of the Kern River region 

Bihliiigraphy 

2 



BULL. U. S. B. F. 1906 




THE GOLDEN TROUT OF THE SOUTHERN HIGH SIERRAS. 



By barton warren EVERMANN, 
Assistant in Charge of Division of Scientific Inquiry, Bureau of Fisheries. 



In 1893 Dr. David Starr Jordan described from the southern High Sierras a 
species of golden trout which he named Salino /^//^'ws aqua-bonita. The description 
was based on three specimens received by him from Mr. W. H. Shoclvley, of San 
Francisco, to whom they had been sent by Mr. George T. Mills, tish commissioner of 
Nevada. At the time the description was written it was supposed that the specimens 
came from Volcano (then called Whitney) Creek, but it was subsequently learned 
that thejr really came from Cottonwood Creek, into which it was said the species had 
been transplanted from Volcano Creek. In 1893 Dr. Charles H. Gilbert visited the 
upper Kern River region and secured color notes on examples of golden trout which 
he caught in Volcano Creek, and upon others which" he obtained from the South Fork 
of the Kern. 

Although it was apparent from the original description and Dr. Gilbert's notes 
that the trout described by Dr. Jordan was a fish of unusual beauty, and that the 
species found in Volcano Creek was even more beautiful, little was added to our 
knowledge of the trout of the Kern River region until recently. From time to 
time reports had come to the Bureau of Fisheries regarding the beautv, gamene.ss, 
and delicious flavor of the golden trout of Volcano Creek, and then the fear began 
to be expressed that, owing to its extremely restricted habitat and the ease with 
which it may be captured, the species was in danger of extermination. 

Stewart Edward White visited the region in 1903 and, impressed with the ease 
with which the extinction of the species could be compassed, called the attention of the 
President to the matter and the President in turn brought it to the attention of Hon. 
George M. Bowers, Commissioner of Fisheries. Complying with the request of the 
President, the Conunissioner ordered an investigation to be made for the purpose of 
determining (a) the natural geographic distribution of this trout, (b) its abundance, 

(c) its habits as to food and spawning time and its ([ualities as a food and game flsh. 

(d) into what waters, if any, it has been transplanted, (e) into what other streams it 
may be introduced, (f) whether its artificial propagation can be undertaken by the 
Bureau, and, finally, (g) what measures or regulations, if any, are necessary for the 
adequate protection of the species. An investigating party, under the writer's direc- 
tion," outfitted at Redstone Park, Tulare County, Cal., with saddle horses, pack 
animals, and camping equipment, and on Jul}' 13, 1904, started for Volcano Creek. 

"The other members of the party were Prof. Oliver P. .lenkins and Prof. Rufiis L. Green, of Stanford University; Prof. 
Chancey .luday. of the University of Colorado; Mr. Charles B. Hudson, of Detroit, Mich., artist of the expedition, and 
necessary assistants, packers, and cook. 

3 



4 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

STREAMS AND LAKES EXAMINED. 

That portion of the southern High Sierras drained l)y the Kings, Kaweah, and 
Kern and, on its eastern slope, 1)V numerous small streams tributary to Owens Lake, 
is marvelously rieh in mountain streams and .small mountain lakes. Practically all 
of them are naturally well suited to trout. The water.s are usually clear and cold 
and free from injurious contamination. The supplj' of tish food i.s ample; entomos- 
traca and other small crustaceans, as well as aquatic insects and insect larviv, abound. 
Yet many of these lakes as well as many of the streams in their upper cour.ses ai-e 
entirel_y without fisli of any kind. All the larger streams were originally well 
supplied with trout and. in their lower warmer portions, with suckers and minnows, 
and these tishes, especialh' the trout, naturally pushed their way up the main streams 
and also into the tributaries until they came to waterfalls which proved impassable 
barriers. Many of these streams have such barriers .somewhere in their course. 

In nature, fishes are found only in tho.se .streams and lakes which they have been 
able to reach from some other stream or lake. Usually the invasion of any stream 
is from below; and falls that tishes can not surmount prove a final obstruction; 
no Ksh will be found in that stream or any of its connecting waters above that 
point. Occasionally by eating back into the watershed one stream maj' steal a portion 
of the headwaters of another on the other side of the divide, and tishes sometimes 
enter a water course in tliat way. This, however, happens but rarely. In the region 
under consideration the streams arfe typical mountain streams, all more or less turbu- 
lent, containing many rapids, cascades, and waterfalls, and with long, relatively 
quiet reaches where the waters flow through mountain meadows. The larger 
streams flow through deep canyons, often with sheer walls several luuidred feet high, 
extending back from the top of which is the relatively level high plateau, traversed 
by many smaller streams. Many, perhaps most, of these tributary streams leave the 
plateau in a series of cascades and falls, the latter sometimes many feet in a sheer 
drop, and all i)icturesrjue and beautiful. These falls, in nearly all the streams tribu- 
tiuy to Kern River above the mouth of the Little Kern and in those in the upper 
courses of the Kaweahs and Kings, have proved impassable barriers, and the streams 
above the falls are wholly without trout or any other iish. Some of these barren 
waters, however, have been stocked by private individuals, tisli sind game clubs, or 
by the state and federal governments. 

KAWEAH KIVER. 

Kings, Kaweah, and Kern are the three great rivers of the southern High Sierras, 
which together constitute the headwaters of the San Joaquin. The Kings and the 
Kern have their principal headwaters among the high inountains north of Mount 
Whitney, Kings flowing westward and the Kern almost directly south. In the right 
angle between these two rivers and approximately bisecting it is the Kaweah, flowing 
southwest. All of these rivers Anally reach that great area of low tule land in the 
ujiper (southern) end of the San Joaquin Valley, of which Tulare Lake is the center. 
As a result of various agencies, chief of which are the extensive irrigation operation.s 
now carried on in this portion of the San Joa(|uin Valle^', only a relatively small pro- 
portion of the water which these rivers bring down from the mountains ever reaches 



. U S. B F, 1905 






THE OOLDKN TKol'T. 5 

Tulare Lake or the tiilc laud about it, and most of the lattei- is now under eultivation 
and the lake has praetieally disappeared. 

Jliddle Fork of K((ii\ah I^iivi: — The Middle Fork of Kavveah Kiver was exam- 
ined at various places from the mouth of the South Fork to a point above the power 
house, some 10 miles up the stream. In this portion of its course the Middle Fork 
is a large, swiftly flowing- stream, with an occasional deep, ([uiet pool, hut ordinarily 
with a strong- current and a depth of 3 to 10 feet or more. The bed rock is of 
granite, which in many places is bare. Many large boulders also occur in the stream. 
There are some rapids and an occasional small fall, at the foot of which arc deep pools 
in which trout delight to loiter. The water is clear, pure, and fairly cold, the maxi- 
mum temperature in Juh* being about i)5'-^ Fahrenheit. Trout were formerly not 
micommon in this river, even down to Threerivers and below, but now they are 
rai-ely seen below the mouth of the P^ast Fork. The Marble Fork of the Kaweali joins 
the Middle Fork just south of the Giant Forest. It was examined in the vicinity 
of the crossing of the road west of the forest, where it is a tine mountain stream 
well suited to trout. (PI. ii, tig. 1.) 

North Forh of Kavieali Rlrer. — The North Fork was examined from Hrodei-and 
Hopping's place at Redstone Park to its mouth, a distance of a))out 2 miles. This 
stream is similar to the Middle Fork in every respect except that it is much smaller. 
In the North Fork trout are not now found lower down than within 1\) miles of the 
mouth. 

Ea-d Fovhof Kait'enh Jiu'er. — The East Fork heads at Farewell Gap and joins the 
Middle Fork about 4 miles above Threerivers. This stream was inspected at various 
places between its source and its mouth. It is, in most jjluces, bold and turl)ulent. 
with granite bed and many I'ascades and consideral)le falls. 

South Fork of luimeah lilver. — The South Fork was examined at various places 
between its source and mouth, particularly in that portion 3 to 4 miles above its 
mouth, also at Alles's i-anch, Sand Meadow, and abo\e the last-named place. The 
South Fork, in its lower course, resembles the North Foi-k. It is, perhaps, somewhat 
more turbulent and the water rather colder. At and al)ove Alles's rani-h it is a \ery 
rough stream averaging feet wide and 1 foot deep, tiowing with many falls, cas- 
cades, and rapids ovei- a smooth-worn granite bed. (PI. ii, tig. 2.) The temperature 
of the water at Alles's ranch at 5 p. m. (July 13) was 70.5^ Fahrenheit, and at 5.-1.') 
a. m. (July 14), 62.2.") . Five or 6 miles above this point it was 62.5" at 11 a. m. 
and at noon at Redwood cal)in it was 63'^. At Camp No. 2," about 2 miles below Sand 
Meadow or 7 miles above Ladybug, the South Fork is a mere creek about 10 feet wide, 
1 foot in average depth, and with a slow current. The bed is of clean sand and gravel. 
The water js clear and cool, the temperature varying from .")(). 2.5- at H a. m. ,Iulv IS 
(when the air was lil.T) ) to <■■!'. •"> ;it 7 \i. m. The banks are lined with i);itches of 
small willows. 

The third cuiip was made in South Fork Meadows, southeast of Sand Meadow 
and about 7 miles from Camp .No. 2. The South Fork at this place is a very small 
stream, 2 to lo feet wide and a few inches deep, flowing usually with a slow current 
(about 3'J3 gallons per minute) over a bottom of coarse white sand, with here and 
there deeper pools, and at other places considerable riffles over boulders of various 

<t The niuto foUciweil iti lliuse invcstigHtions, with thu i-iunps indiuiitud by mimbcTs, is shown iiji thu iR-i'ompiiiiyinK' 
mnp ip. n2. ) 



H BULLETIN OK THK liUBKAU OK FISHERIES. 

sizes. (PI. II. fig-, '-i.) rsually liclow each riffle is a pool Iroiii a few inehes to 2 feet 
deep, in wiiieh the trout are oenerally found. In the meadow the overhanginjr 
grassy baniis aii'ord hiding places for the trout. There are small willows along the 
banks in some places. There are really 3 streams in tiiis region, viz, the one just 
described, which flows approximately north; another flowing westward from Cabin 
Meadow and joining the first at our camp, and a third which heads near AVet Meadow 
and flows westward, joining the main stream just above Sand Meadow. These 
streams are only 3 or 4 miles long and are mui^h alike. The temperature of the 
water in the stream at Camp No. 3 varied from 44" at 7.30 a. m. to 58^^ at 3.45 p. m. 

Fi-shes are not abundant in the South Fork of the Kaweali. In the lower 3 or 4 
miles of the river the western sucker (Catostomus occidental is), the chub {IH,ycho- 
cheilm oregoneiisis), and the ''lake fish" (Mylopharodon conocephalus) occur, though 
only in limited numbers. Hutiliis nyvimetricm also occurs, in some abundance. 
About 3 miles above the mouth trout are found. They appeared to be fairly numerous, 
but are usually small. 

According to Mr. .John Broder. of Redstone Park, the present trout in the dilierent 
forks of the Kaweah are descended from trout artificially introduced, the fish having 
been planted near the mouths of the respective forks. Prior to lS(i7-68 a few trout 
were found in these streams, but they were probably all killed by the great flood of 
that year. Mr. Ira Blossom, who was recently interviewed by Mr. Broder, and who 
settled on the South Fork in 1806. says there were speckled trout in that stream 
then. After the flood of 1867-68 no trout were seen uutil after the streams had been 
restocked. About 1884 Mr. J. W. Pogue had a few trout placed in the Main Fork 
of the Kaweah, and in 1893 the Visalia Sportsman's Club secured a consignment of 
• trout from the state hatchery and planted them in the various ))ranches of the 
Kaweah. It is said that the stock consisted of rainbow trout and eastern brook 
trout, that the rainbow thrived, but that the latter did not do well. Mr. Broder 
says, however, that he ha.s heard of an occasional one being caught. The headwater.s 
of the South Fork of the Kaweah were stocked with trout from Soda Creek at 
Quinn's Horse Camp. 

TULE EIVER. 

Middle Fcvlc of Tide Elver. — The various headwaters of the Tule River originate 
about the south edge of the Sequoia National Park, between those of the South Fork 
of the Kaweah on the north and western aifluents of the Little Kern on the east. 
There are several forks, all coming together after getting out of the foothills, only 
to lose themselves again in the intricate delta of tule land east of Lake Tulare. The 
Middle Fork was the only stream of this system that wc examined. AVhile camped 
at South Fork Meadows (July 15-17) two members of our j)arty made a side trip to 
this stream, crossing over the divide south of South Fork Meadows. On the summit 
was found a small lake, apparently containing no fish, about 250 yards by 150 yards, 
draining into the Middle Tule. The latter at the place visited is a small stream 
resembling the headwaters of Soda Creek. (PI. iii, fig. 4.) 

The various branches of the Tule River are said to have been originally without 
trout, but were stocked several years ago by the state fish commission. Trout were 
found to be abundant in the Middle Tule. The specimens preserved closely resemble 
the McCloud River trout, and it is probable that the stock came from that stream. 



U S, B. F. 1905, 




THK GOLDEN TROUT. 



KEKN HIVEK. 



Kern River i>i in isonie respects* one of the most interesting streams in the Sierras. 
Its headwaters are among that group of stupendous mountain pealcs from Table 
Mountain (14,000 feet) in the Great Western Divide eastward through Mount 
Geneva, Crag Ericsson, Leland Stanford University Peak (14,103 feet), Junction 
Peak (1-4,000 feet). Mount Tvndali (14,101 feet), Mount Williamson (14,448 feet), 
Mounts Barnard, Tunnabora, and Wokorope to Mount Whitney (14,522 feet), the 
highest and greatest of them all. (PI. vi, figs. 14 and 1.5.) 

The course of the Kern is remarkable in that it is rectilinear and meridional, it 
being almost exactly due south for a distance ttf more than 28 miles, without wind- 
ings or curves of importance through the great Kern River Canyon, which for 
sublimity, as well as beauty of scenery, rivals the Yosemite. The direction of the 
canyon was, according to Professor Lawson, determined originally by a sti'aight rift 
which has controlled subsequent erosion, and the canyon Is therefore both a rift 
valley and an erosional trough. The Kern River is a considerable stream, carrying 
a large amount of water. At the ford just above Soda Spring the stream was on 
July 22 about 40 feet wide, with an average depth of 18 inches and a strong current. 
The water was clear and cold. The total length of this river is probably 120 to 150 
miles, and the entire portion lying above the foothills of the Sierras is good trout 
water. 

The tributary streams are many. Those of importance on the west, beginning 
at the north, are Milestone Creek, Kern-Kaweah River, Chagoopa Creek, Funston 
Creek, The Big Arroyo, Rattlesnake Creek, Laurel C'reek, Coyote Creek, and Little 
Kern River; those on the east, from north to south, are Tyndall Creek, East Fork 
of Kern River, Whitney Creek, Rock Creek, Volcano Creek, Nine Mile Creek, 
Monache Creek, and South Fork of Kern River. The only ones of these examined 
during the present investigations were Little Kern River (and certain of its tributa- 
ries), Coyote Creek, AVhitney Creek, Rock Creek (and Guyot and Siberian Outpost 
creeks, two of its tributaries). Volcano Creek, and Soutli Fork of Kern River. 

Kern Lake. — Just below Soda Spring and the mouth of Volcano Creek is an 
enlargement or widening in Kern River known as Kern Lake. This lake was 
formed in the spring of 18t3S by a landslide or, more properly, by the washing of 
a large amount of debris from a small canyon on the east side and depositing it in 
the canyon of the Kern across the stream and completely daunning it. The dam is 
now triangular in shape and extends out from the east wall of the canyon. It is 
about an acre in extent, and most of it was not more than 4 or 5 feet above the sur- 
face of the lake at the time of our visit. The dam appears to have raised the water 
at least 10 feet, as shown by stumps of trees standing in water 10 feet deep. Most 
of these trees have been broken off at the water level, l)ut se\eral still project 1 to 
10 or 15 feet altove it. The lake is about a mile long and half a mile wide. The 
deepest water is at the lower or south end on the east side, where it reaches a maxi- 
nunn of 13 feet. Three soundings taken near the lower end gave 8, 8.5, and 10 feet; 
a series of six at the lower end of the lake just west of the outlet gave 10.5, 
10.5, 10.5, 10.5, 10.5, 11, and 11.5 feet; and another series just east of the outlet gave 
11, and 12 feet. 



8 BULLETIN OF THp; BUREAU OF FISRERIES. 

The strciiin has cut its way through the west end of the daui. The upper end of 
the lake is silting up rapidly, and it is a matter of but a f(iw years until the lake as 
-such will have entirely disappeared. The sand delta is now extending out into the 
lake in a series of ringers, with intervening channels, and the basin is already about 
halfway silted up. Upon this delta at the upper end is a thick growth of young 
cotton woods and willows. The greater part of this silted-up area is only a few inches 
al)ove the surface of the water, and the water in the channels through it is only 18 
inches or less in depth. The depth over a greater part of the lake is 6 to 10 feet, 
and there is a dense growth of acjuatic vegetation covering nearly all the lake from 
the sand bars to the dam. This consists mostly of a species of /'nfiniiof/efon, a 
Bat)-ac/uu/ii, and various rilamentous algse. The white water crowfoot {H. frlcho- 
phyllmn) is the most abundant species and covers the surface where the water is not 
over 5 or 6 feet deep. In the lower end of the lake on the west side a large number 
of logs have accumulated in sluggish water, forming a considerable jam, as well as a 
favtyite resort for the numerous suckers that inha])it the lake. The river for about 
three-fourths of a mile below the lake is deep and sluggish, the depth being perhaps 
6 to 10 feet. (PI. iv, figs. 7 and 8, pi. v, tigs. 10 and 11.) 

About half a mile below Kern Lake is a smaller similar lake, known as " Little 
Lake " or " Lower Kern Lake," which is said to have had a similar l>ut earlier origin. 
(PI. XIII, rig. 30.) It is about half a mile in diameter and is separated from the river 
by a levee of sand and silt on its east side, the river flowing a straight course at the 
base of the east wall of the canyon. The outlet of the lake is a small Vivulet, which 
cuts the levee at its southern end. 

Litth' Kern Rirer. — This stream lias its rise on the east and south slopes of 
Mount Vandever and Mount Florence at Farewell (rap. Hows southeast for about ^0 
miles, and joins the main Kern River south of Trout Meadow. The greater portion 
of its course is through a considerable canyon, and the total descent is several thou- 
sand feet. The stream was examined by us from its source down to the crossing of 
the Hockett trail just below the mouth of Wet Meadow Creek. The stream is made 
up of a succession of falls, cascades, and rapids, with occasional more quiet reaches 
between. The majority of the falls would not seriously interfere with the free move- 
ment of trout, but there are at least two just below the Broder cabin which rish can 
not now ascend. The stream, however, has trout throughout its entire course and 
doubtless became stocked before the falls wore down to their present proportions. 

Above the crossing of the Hockett trail the Little Kern is a poor trout stream 
until the falls are reached. The bed is of gravel and the pools are shallow. The falls 
consist of a .series of steep slides and vertical falls, all close together, the total height 
being about 100 feet. No fall in this portion of the stream is sheer at high w-ater 
for more than 5 feet. A half mile above these falls are several others which individ- 
ually are as high as the rirst falls, but their combined height is less. Above the 
second falls the pools are larger and deeper and the stream is much better for trout. 
The fall of this creek is about 100 feet to the mile. At Broder"s cabin the volume 
was about 15,000 gallons per minute. (PI. iii, tigs. .5 and 6.) 

Wet Meadinn Creel: is a small western tributary of the Little Kern. It rises 
just south of Mount Vandever and joins the Little Kern near the crossing of the 
Hockett trail. It is for most of its length a iiuiet stream only a few yards or feet 




FIG. 9. WET MEADOW CREEK. WHITE'S TROUT IS ABUNDANT IN THIS STREAM. 



Bull. U. S. B. F. 1905. 





Bull. U. S, B. F. 190? 








Plate VI 


" • --1 










f ; ■^>' 




■■#''-'i' 




P*\'^"!fl 


iK-J^i-»*C 


>^ 


,: ■ 5'u 4 


:, i; i *"-•■- " 


Wi^jRfilti ■. '-j^^l 


T|^'. 


'^s^^'ff^ 


■» ■ ■ 


■ " - ■'' 


^S^^^. 


'^ 




-' 


.--;:'^\ . 





FIQ. 14. VIEW OF UPPER KERN RIVER CANYON, LOOKING SOUTH FROM A POINT ON THE EAST WALL 
ABOVE VOLCANO CREEK. TOWER ROCK IS SEEN ON THE LEFT, THE MAIN TERMINAL MORAINE 
IN THE MIDDLE-GROUND, AND KERNBUTS LOWER DOWN. 




FIQ. 15. TOOWA VALLEY, LOOKING EAST FROM SUMMIT OF A VOLCANO 21 MILES WEST OF THE ONE 
SHOWN IN THIS VIEW, ILLUSTRATING THE AGGRADED VALLEY BOTTOM AND THE MATURE CHAR- 
ACTER OF THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS. 




N IDEAL THOUT 



THE GOLDEN TROUT. 9 

wide, iiio:iii(i(>iiiii;' tliroii<>li grassy meadows, and with no falls or rapids of any 
importance. It is well supplied with trout of good size and lirilliant coloration. 
(PI. IV, fig. it.) 

S(Mhi Cn-el- is a somewhat larger western tributary of the Little Kern. It rises 
on the divide just west of (^uinns Horse Camp, and flows southeast al)out 6 miles* 
before uniting with the Little Kern. Near its mouth it receives a small tributary 
from Pecks Canyon. Soda Creek at Quinns Horse Camp is much the same sort of 
a stream as the South Fork of the Kaweah at South Fork Meadows. It is perhaps a 
little more turbulent, but has, however, no iuipassal)lc falls. Trout are abundant. 
The distance from South Fork Meadows to Quinns Horse Camp is about 5 miles. 
The elevation of the summit of the pass between the two is »,()8U feet, as given on a 
United States Geological Survey bench mark. 

C'injofe C'rei'l: — This is a considerable stream, having its rise on the Western 
Divide between the main Kern and the Little Kern. Flowing east and southeast a 
distance of »> or 8 miles, it enters Kern River just below Soda Spring. Its upper 
course is through some small meadows, where the stream flows with a gentle current, 
but the greater portion is through a rugged canyon, in which the descent is very 
rapid and the stream verj' turbulent. In drops into Kern Canyon in a series of falls 
of considerable size and much beauty. The first (lowermost) of these falls is at the 
edge of Kern C'anyon and has a height of 19 feet. The channel of the stream is 
blocked bj' a huge boulder, around which the water pours, only a small amount 
creeping under the boulder. The second and third falls are a))out iJ5() feet above the 
first. The second is about 50 feet high; the third, or Broder Falls "*, 68 feet, and the 
distance between them about .50 feet. (PI. vii, figs. 17 and 18.) About one-half 
mile above the third falls is another, the fourth, which has a vertical descent of about 
35 feet. Two hundred feet farther up is a fifth fall, with a drop of about 30 feet. 
(PI. VII, fig. lit, and pi. viii, fig. 20.) 

Among these various falls are excellent trout pools, and examples of trout were 
caught from each of them l)y some of the members of our party. Above the fifth 
falls are many others of smaller size, about and among which are numerous deep, 
relatively (juiet pools where trout may be found. As several of these falls now 
constitute barriers wholly eflective in preventing the further a-scent of fishes, it is 
evident that the trout had become distributed ihe full length of the stream before 
an\' of the falls tjccame impas8al)le. 

The trout of Coyote Creek show greater variation than is found among those 
of any other stream in this region. Those taken from below any one of the impas- 
sable falls can, as a whole, be distinguished from those above the falls, and it may 
well be that the efl'ects of isolation are beginning to show on the trout in the difl'ercnt 
parts of the stream. 

W/i/'i/iei/ Creek. — This creek has its sources in the snowbanks and tarns on the 
west and southern slopes of Mount Whitney, whence it flows a trifle south of west to 
Kern River. The total length is al)out 8 miles. At Cral)tree Meadow a small tril)- 
utary joins it from the south. Near the head of Whitney Creek are five considerablii 
little lakes or mountain tarns besides a dozen tin}- ones. Above Crabtree Meadow 

" Named for Mr. John Broder, of Redstone Park, Tulare County, Cal., in recognition of the active interest which he lias 
taken in otocking with trout the barren waters of Tulare County. 



10 BULLETIN OF THE BPKEAII OF FISHERIES. 

the. stream in a very I'apid one with luaiiy t)oiililer.s, falls, rapids, cascades, and pools. 
In the meadow it Hows with a good strong current. Its width here is about 12 to 15 
feet and the depth 10 to 15 inches, with numerous deeper pools. The volume is 
about 7,320 gallons per minute. The bed of the stream in the meadow is clean white 
gravel with some black soil and decayed vegetation in the still places. Both above 
and below the meadow the bed is chieriy granite or granite gravel and boulders. 
About 1.5 miles below the meadow the stream drops about 200 feet in a close series of 
falls which fishes can not ascend. There is a l)eautiful cascade just below the meadow, 
l)ut it does not form an impassable barrier. From this point the stream descends 
rapidly in a series of picturesque rapids, cascades, and falls. 

Whitney Creek is the cleanest, clearest, and coldest of all the creeks we exam- 
ined, and, although an ideal trout stream, it is entirely without fish of anj^ kind. 
The lakes at its head (pi. ix. tigs. 23, 21, and 25) have an abundance of trout food, 
consisting chiefly of entomostraca and insect lairvse, and the larger ones should be 
stocked with trout. The stream also was found to be well supplied with fish food, 
particularly in Crabtree Meadow and other quiet reaches. (PI. x, tigs. 2(3 and 27.) 
Frogs were abundant all along the creek in all suitable places. The temperature of 
the water at Crabtree Meadow at 6 p. m. July 27 was 56°. Whitney Creek should 
be stocked with trout from Volcano Creek, and the transplanting could be easily 
accomplished. 

Bocl- Creek. — This creek has its various headwaters on the western slopes of 
Mount 'Le Conte, Old Mount Whitney, and Cirque Peak, and flows west to Kern 
River, which it enters about 5 or 6 miles south of the mouth of Whitney Creek. 
From the north it receives a small tributarj' called Guyot Creek, and from the 
meadows at Siberian Outpost (pi. vi, fig. 16, and pi. xiv, fig. 38) flows another some- 
what larger creek, which joins Rock Creek a mile above the mouth of Guj'ot Creek. 
(PI. XI, tig. 29.) All three of these creeks were examined, and no fish were found 
in them. They could be easily stocked either from Volcano Creek or the South 
Fork of the Kern. 

Volcano Oreeh."' — On account of the marvelously beautiful trout inhabiting 
its waters, if for no other reason. Volcano Creek merits a somewhat full descrip- 
tion. The course of the stream is peculiar. Its sources are on the slopes of Cirque 
Peak and among the other cirques of the south end of the High Sierras. A number 
of small streams come together in and above a series of broad grassy meadows 
south of Cirque Peak, forming Volcano Creek, which flows slightly west of south 
a distance of about 8 miles and then turns aVjruptly westward to pursue a more 
winding course for about 8 miles farther before joining Kern River opposite Soda 
Spring. 

The sources arc at an elevation of lo,o()() to 13,0((() feet. The upper course is 
through a succession of small moiHitain meadows, the larger ones formerly called 
" Whitney Meadows," but now known as "Volcano Meadows." Except in the more 

"This creek on some maps and elsewhere has been called Whitney Creek, a name applied to it when the mountain 
now called Sheep Mountain, or Old Mount Whitney, was thought to be the real Mount Whitney. When it was found 
that this stream does not rise near either Mount Whitney or Old Mount Whitney the name Whitney Creek was transferred 
to the stream described above under that name, and the name " Volcano Creek " Vas adopted for this stream. In some 
publications it has been called Golden Trout Creek. The United States Board on Geographic Names hasadopted the name 
Volcano Creek, which therefore becomes tlio recutfnized official name. 



Bull. U. S, B, F. 1905. 




Plate VIII. 


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FIG. 25. CLIFFS SOUTH OF LANGLEY'S CAM!', BASE ' iF MiJUNT WHITNE, 



THE GOLDEN TROUT. 11 

level meadows, where the water flows gently, this portit)n of the stream if> made up 
of a .succession of rapids and small cascades, none, however, constituting a barrier 
to the ascent of fishes. The total fall from the headwaters to the point where the 
stream turns west is between 1,<;00 and 2,000 feet. 

The bend to the westward is made just after the stream enters an east-and-west 
ancient trough or valle3' which Professor Lawson calls "Toowa Valle}," just below 
the most eastern of the series of small volcanoes or cinder cones which give name to 
the creek, and at a place known as the "tunnel." The elevation of the creek bed at 
this point is about 8.600 feet. The floor of Kern Canyon at the mouth of Volcano 
Creek is 6,300 feet. The drop made by this portion of the creek is therefore about 
2,300 feet. (PI. x, fig. 28). 

As already stated, the descent made by the ci"eek above the '" tunnel" is without 
any considerable sheer falls. That portion below the " tunnel " is markedly difi'erent. 
Rapids, cascades, and sheer falls of large proportions and exceeding beauty follow 
each other in rapid succession, particularly in the last three or four miles. Only in 
(rroundhog Meadow and one or two other small meadows are any quiet reaches 
found. While there are many rapids and small cascades all along below the tunnel, 
it is only in the last three or four miles that falls of considerable size are found. A 
good general view of this portion of the creek is seen in plate viii, figure 21. 

Volcano Creek above the tunnel lias a bed of granite sand and gravel with 
granite boulders of various sizes from snrall to very large and in great profusion. 
From the tunnel to the mouth there is not so much granite, but nuich lava, volcanic 
tufa, and tufaceous sand. 

Though the stream for most of its course is turbulent and wild, there are 
three meadows of considerable size through which it flows more quietly. Here the 
banks are of sod or well covered by willows and other shrubs; the bed is of gravel 
of various sizes, fragments of lava, and finer material from the granite, lava, and 
soil. Below these meadows is the series of rapids and important falls already 
mentioned and which are more fully described on page 14. 

To understand Volcano Creek it is necessary to consider it in connection with 
another stream, the South Fork of the Kern. The relations of these two streams are 
peculiar and unusual. According to Professor Lawson, the South Fork of the 
Kern has its rise in the Summit Divide, about 3 miles southeast of Cirque Peak, 
flows southwest about 6 miles, and enters Toowa Vallej^ practically at the same 
point where Volcano Creek enters it. There it makes an acute bend to the 
eastward and flows southeasterly through the eastern part of Toowa Valley. (PI. 
XI, figs. 30 and 31.) At the point of nearest approach Volcano Creek and Soutli 
Fork of Kern are separated by a low alluvial ridge not over 75 or 80 yards wide at 
the level of the beds of the streams. The top of the ridge at tlie narrowest point is 
about 50 or 60 feet wide and not to exceed 30 feet above the streams. It is evident 
that these two streams were at one time tributaries of one stream which, according 
to I'rofessor Lawson, occupied the Toowa Valle}', and the separation of the drainage 
into two distinct streams, one flowing west and the other east in the same vallev, is 
an interesting problem which has its bearing upon the geomorphy of the region and, 
as well, upon the origin and relationshii^s of the trout of the two streams. 



12 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

VokiiiK) Creek originally probably had its outlet to the westward through the 
same valley in which it now Hows. As Kern River cut its canyon deeper and deeper, 
Volcano Creek did the same, cutting back from Kern Canyon, however, only a mile 
or two, and doubtless forming considerable falls. During this time it is believed 
that the portion of South Fork of Kern above the tunnel was a triljutary of Volcano 
Creek. Subsequently the region through which Volcano Creek flows has been 
materially modified by flows of lava from several volcanoes which appeared on the 
floor of tiie valley or near it. Professor Lawson identified six such volcanic cones, 
at least four of which I was able to locate, one being on the left side of the South 
Fork just al)ove the tunnel. These small volcanoes sent streanis of lava in various 
directions, particularly down the gorge of Volcano Creek almost, to the bottom of 
Kern Canyon. This lava stream tilled the gorge of the lower part of Volcano Creek, 
which had been cut down nearly to the present Kern level. Above this gorge the 
stream has been variously obstructed by lava flows, one result of which has been to 
crowd the stream to the north and northeast sides of the valley. Another and very 
important result was the damming of the stream and causing the formation of a 
broad alluvial plain in the vicinity of the craters. Eventually this plain was carried 
so high as to make the di-ainage unstable, the streakn discharging sometimes by the 
Volcano Cr(>ek Valley, sometimes by the South Fork Valley, and dou))tless being 
sometimes divided l>etween the two. As Volcano Creek partially reopened its 
ancient channel by eroding the lava, the habit of the upper streams was finally 
changed, so that, instead of adding to the alluvial deposit, they began to excavate it; 
and when this change occurred it happened that the main branch of Volcano Creek 
discharged toward the west, while the eastern branch discharged eastward, 
constituting the present upper waters of the South Fork. The ridge between 
the two is merely a remnant of the alluvial deposit and is now only a few yards in 
width. Its narrowness suggested to certain ranchers living in the vallev of the 
South Fork the possil)ility of increasing, for irrigation purposes, the flow of water 
in the South Fork by tunneling the ridge. The level of Volcano Creek is slightly 
higher than that of the South Fork, and when the ditch or tunnel was made a por- 
tion of the water of Volcano Creek flowed into the South Fork. (PI. v, figs. 12 
and 13.) Mr. George W. Stewart, agent of the United States Land Office, Visalia, 
Cal., has kindly furnished the following information concerning this tumicl: 

From the records of the board of supervisors of Tulare County, Cal., sitting as a board of water 
commissioners, I find there was presented to the board in 1883 a petition of Patrick Brady and 80 
others to be allowed to divert from Whitney [Volcano] Creek at a point near a narrow ridge between 
Whitney [Volcano] Creek and Ramshaw Creek [South Fork of Kern] 4 miles below Whitney [Volcano] 
Meadows and 3 miles above Ramshaw Meadows 10,000 miner's inches of water under a 4-inch pressure, 
the same to be conveyed through a ditch and tunnel, the water to be used for stock, manufacturing, 
and irrigation, in township 26 south, ranges 33, 34, and 35 east. The said records show that niiiler 
date of ISeptember 13, 1883, it was ordered -" That prayer of said petitioners be granted and that they 
have out of said Whitney [Volcano] Creek, at said point of diversion, sufficient water to till their 
ditch — that is, 10,000 inches under 4-inth pressure." 

The tunnel was driven through a hill (ridge) composed mainly of disintegrated granite and., I 
have been informed, soon caved in, and was then transformed into what miners call an "open cut." 
This also caved in so that it had to be abandoned, and the water was diverted at a higher point on the 
stream, I believe, about U miles above. I have been told that the amount of water diverted through 
the tmmel was sufficient to permit the golden trout to escape into Ramshaw Creek. In 1899 when I 




FIG. 26. WHITNEY CREEK AS IT ENTERS CRABTREE MEADOW. 




FIG. 28. THE MOUTH OF VOLCANO CREEK CANYON AND THE FLOOR OF THE UPPER KERN CANYON. THE 
CREEK HAD ONCE CUT DOWN NEARLY TO THE LEVEL OF KERN RIVER, AFTER WHICH IT WAS FILLED 
WITH LAVA— THE DARK ROCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PICTURE. SINCE THEN , 
GORGE HAS BEEN CUT, PARTLY IN THE LAVA AND PARTLY BETWEEN IT 




FIQ. 30. TOOWA VALLEY, LOOKING EAST FROM SUMMIT OF VOLCANO SHOWN IN PLATE VI, FIGURE 15 
THE BROAD, ANCIENT VALLEY FLOOR HAS BEEN DISSECTED AND SINCE AGGRADED TO THE PRES- 
ENT MEADOW LEVEL. 




FIQ. 31. SOUTH SIDE OF TOOWA VALLEY FROM SAME POINT OF VIEW AS IN FIGURE 30. 



THE GOLDEN TROUT. 13 

passt'd the jxjint of iliversion iiieiitiuned, abiive the tunnel, aljout une-half of the volume of the stream 
was iiowing hito the ilitili over a ismall dam uf brush and rock, and there was nothing to prevent the 
escape of the fisli. Tlie flow of water was abundant for tlie purpose, and the water in the ditch, as I 
remember it, was not more tiian 3 feet below the surface of the water in the creek, and it flowed over 
a broad dam. 

The amount allowed to he diverted [10,000 miner's inches under 4-inch jiressure e(|uals 90,000 
gallons per minute] was several times the whole volume of water in the creek during the summer 
months, and at thatiioint 1 doubt if it exceeded 10,000 inches many days in the year. It is not prol)- 
alile that 10,000 inches was diverted at any time, as it would he possible only during a freshet. 
Under the order granting the prayer of the petitioners they woul<l have been allowed to divert all the 
water of Volcano Creek during the period of low water. I have never heard that this was done, and 
I do not know that it was ixot done. 

At. the time of my visit (July '24:) the total \oluiue of Volcano Creek at the tun- 
nel was about 4,893 gallons per minute. The tunnel was then entirely closed (as it 
doubtless has been for many years), onlj- a tritiing amount of water seeping through 
the gravel. The ditch some distance above the tunnel was also closed and no water 
riimiing in it. Information ju.st received from Mr. Stewart says that no water ran 
in it in I'.K);-,. It is doubtful whether any has run since 1899, and it is hoped that no 
effort will ever ])e made again to divert the water of Volcano Creek. 

Inforiuation given by Mr. John Broder, of Redstone Park, agrees essentially 
vvith the al)ove. He state.s that the tunnel was made about 1883 or 188-1, and that it 
gave troubh^ by frequently caving in; that it was changed to an "open cut" about 
1891, but, continuing to cave in, was soon abandoned. A ditch diverting the water at 
a point al)Ove the tiuinel was then dug, about 1892. Mr. Broder says he has seen 
the water running through the tiuniel, the "'open cut," and also through the ditch; 
titat there was nt)thing to prevent the free passage of trout from Volcano Creek, and 
tiiat lish swimming downstream doul)tless found it easier to pass into the ditch or 
tunnel than to continue down the creek; and Mr. Stewart found this condition exist- 
ing in 1899. Mr. A. H. Swain, receiver of the United States Land Office at Visalia. 
was there in 1903 and fcmnd no water diverted, the ditch, as well as the tunnel, not 
being in condition to carry water; and that was the condition at the time of my visit 
in 1901. 

I have lieard from various sources that the parties who constructed the tunnel 
and ditch had been enjoined from diverting the water, but the truth of this statement 
has not been established. The points of diversion are in Tidare County, and Mr. 
Stewart informs me that the records of that county do not show tliat any such 
injunction was issued. 

Professor Law.son further says: 

It is evident that the period of eruption of the vi>lcanoes of the Toowa Valley and the upbuilding 
of their cones is later than that of the formation of the valley, and that they are features imposed 
upon, and independent of, the erosional geomorphy of the valley. The valley had evidently attained 
its present character, as far as erosion is concerned, before the volcanic eruption began, and has been 
but little modified since eruptive activity ceased, except l)y aggradation." 

The bed of Volcano Creek, however, has undergone considerable moditication 
since the lava How. This has consisted chiefl}' in the wearing away of the obstructing 
lava and in the formation of a niunber of considera})le falls in the last two or three 



'Lafrson, op. oit., p. 321. 



14 BULLETIN OF THK BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

miles of the stream. This portion is vevy wild (pi. xiv, tig. :^lt), the total descent in 
the last 2 miles being about 1,600 feet. Starting at the mouth of the creek, the first 
fall of importance is found only a short distance back from the river. This is known 
as Agua-Bonita Falls, and the vertical descent is between 60 and 80 feet. (PI. xn, 
fig. 32.) A few rods farther up is a small but very beautiful fall (pi. xiii, fig. 34) 
with a sheer drop of about 10 feet, which I have named "Surby Falls."" About 
300 yards above Agua-Bonita Falls is the second, or Stewart Falls'' (pi. xii, tig. 33), 
in a series of sheer drops totaling about 70 feet. The next or third important falls 
(pi. VIII, tig. 22) is several rods farther up stream, and has been named '"Shields 
Falls."'' It consists of two sheei' falls each of about 25 feet. Several I'ods above 
these are Twin Falls (pi. xiii, tig. 3.5), just below the crossing of tlie trail. These 
are very beautiful, and have a sheer drop of al)out IS feet. 

These four falls are each and all barriers that fishes can not possibly surmount. 
Fishes could, of course, go down over them and they doubtless do so, but they do not go 
out into Kern River. The trout of Volcano Creek are a small, creek-loving species, 
and evidently avoid the larger stream. The various falls are adequate in keeping 
Kern River trout from ascending Volcano Creek, and these same falls, together with 
the size of the stream, are ecjually adequate in keeping the creek trout from entering 
Kern River. The trout of Volcano Creek are therefore as completeU' isolated from 
those of Kern River as if a land barrier intervened. 

That Volcano Creek was originally stocked with trout from Kern River ma}' be 
accepted without much question. The lava flows already referred to doubtless killed 
off all the trout of the lower portions of the creek, leaving perhaps onl}- those of the 
headwaters to reinvade the depleted lower portion after the conditions became suit- 
able. At that time it is probable that the trout of South Fork of Kern (which was 
presumably also stocked from Kern River) did not materially differ from those of 
Volcano Creek; but the period that has elapsed since their segregation, due to the 
formation of the alluvial barrier and the numerous impassalde falls, has proved quite 
suthcient to permit a differentiation which renders them readily distinguishable and. 
I believe, specifically distinct. 

About one-half mile above Twin Falls a small stream from the .south enters 
Volcano Creek. Near its mouth this stream has cut its way through the volcanic 
tufa and formed a natural bridge (pi. xiv, fig. 37). This bridge is 18 to 20 feet 
wide, 12 to 15 feet high on the lower side, and 8 to 10 feet high on the upper side. 

Masses of this tufa are found in all the more (juiet reaches of Volcano Creek 
from the tunnel down, and in the eddies and deeper pools the bed is largely made up 
of this material, either as fragments of various sizes 6r as sand. The color of the 
tufa is a light lemon-yellow or yellowish white. The tufa seems to dissolve or break 
down readily in the water, the result being that the water is more or less milky. The 
similaritj' in the color of this tufa, and even the general color of the bed of the stream 
in many places, to certain colors found in the trout forces itself on one's attention. 

M Named in memory o{ Mr. Byrd Siirby, of Threerivers, Tulare County, Cal., a member of my party who was killed by 
lightning on Mount Whitney July 26, 1904. 

!> Named for Mr. George W. Stewart, of Visalia, Tulare County, Cal., president of the Tulare County Fi.sh and Game 
League and of the Mount Whitney Club, who has done so much toward the stocking of the streams of the southern High 
Sierras with trout. 

cln honor of Mr. George O. Shields, who, as editor of Recreation and later of its sueces.sor. Shields' Magazine, has done 
so much for fish and game protection in America. 



. U, S, B, F. 1905. 






*ND STEWART (SECOND) 




FIG 35. TWIN FALLS, VOLCANO CREEK, JUST BELOW THE FIRST TRAIL CROSSING; HEIGHT ABOUT 18 FEET. 




FIG. 36 VIEW DOWN KERN CANYON FROM A KERNBUT BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER KERN LAKES. 
SHOWING LOWER KERN LAKE IN FOREGROUND, GREAT ROCK, SLIDE ON LEFT, A TYPICAL KERN- 
BUT ON THE RIGHT, WITH STEEP WALL BEHIND IT, AND THE PROFILE OF THE TROUT MEAD- 
OWS DEFILE IN THE DISTANCE. 



Bull. U. S. B. F. 1905, 




THE GOLDEN TROUT. 15 

Sout/( Fcrh of Kei'ii Rlivr. — This stream has alread}' l)eeii mentioned and 
described in part. It rises southeast of Cirque Peak on the east side of a high 
mountain ridge separating it from Voleano Creek. For tiie first six or seven miles 
its course is west of south until it enters Toowa Valle}' near the tunnel; there it 
turns abruptly to the southeast. After flowing through South Fork of Kern Meadows 
it turns southward, which course it follows for several miles, and then, turning west- 
ward, enters the main Keini River a few miles south of Keruville. 

The stream was examined by us only in that portion of its course easily reached 
from the tunnel. At that place it is smaller than Volcano Creek, hut below South 
Fork of Kern Meadows it becomes a considerable stream. At the lower end of these 
meadows it receives from the north a tributary known as "Mulk}' Creek," a small 
stream of special interest because of the fact that the trout with which Cottonwood 
Creek was originally stocked came from it. 

Cottonvyjod Creel-. — A few words should be said of the waters of the east side of 
the southern High Sierras. Numerous streams of greater or less impoi-tance having 
their headwaters on the eastern slopes of this range flow dinectly into Owens Lake 
or into its most important tributary, Owens River. Lone Pine Creek and Turtle 
Creek have their sources on the east side of Mount Whitney, Mount Le Conte, and 
Sheep Mountain, opposite Whitney and Rock creeks, and, flowing eastward about 
14 miles, enter Owens River at Lone Pine. Cottonwood Creek rises on the eastern 
slopes of Sheep Mountain and Cirque Peak opposite the headwaters of Rock and 
Volcano creeks and flows southeast about 15 or IS miles to Owens Lake. Well toward 
the head of Cottonwood Creek are said to be some small lakes. All of these streams, 
so far as known, were originally without trout of any kind. Some of them, however, 
have been stocked. The cii'cumstanccs attending the stocking of Cottonwood Creek 
are explained elsewhere in this report (p. HH). 

THE FISHES OF THE KERN RIVER REGION. 

There are not many species of flshes in the Kern River region. Two species of 
suckers, three of minnows (Cyprinida^), and two of trout seem to be all that have 
been recorded. But the streams and lakes have not been carefully investigated and 
it is quite probable other species will be found when more thorough collections are 
made. Of the two suckers only one was obtained by us. Specimens of the three 
minnows were secured. As regards the trout, our collections contain more species 
than have hitherto been recorded from the region, there being at least six represented. 
They are all save one I'egarded as belonging to the rainbow trout series and are 
as follows: (1) the Kern River trout {Snlmo gilhert!)., occurring only in Kern River; 
(2) S(ihfu) agua-hinJta, native only to the South Fork of the Kern and its tributa- 
ries, but introduced from it into Cottonwood Creek; (.3) the golden trout of Volcano 
Creek, which does not occur in any other stream; (4) the Soda Creek trout, found 
throughout the basin of the Little Kern and in Coyote Creek and introduced 
from Soda Creek into the headwaters of the South Fork of the Kaweah; (5) the 
common rainbow trout {Snlmo sliuxtd)., widely introduced by the state flsh commis- 
sion into the waters of the state and found by us in the headwaters of the Middle 
Tule, the lower course of the South Fork of the Kaweah, the Middle Fork of the 



16 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

Kaweah, and in Marble Fork; and (tl) tlic couiinon <nit-throat {Sialm.o clarku), intro- 
duced into at least sonic sti'eanis of the region and found hy us in Marlile Fork of the 
Kaweah. 

The Coyote Creek trout are somewhat anomalous in that some of them show 
considerable red on the throat. It may become necessary to separate these red- 
throated trout as a distinct species, ])ut for the present the question of their distinct- 
ness is held in abeyance. 

The followini;- is a systematic list of tlu^ fisli(\s thus far known from tiie Kern 
River reyion: 

1. Pantosteus araeopus (.lordau). Ilunl-liend Siirl-er. 

The type specimens of this sucker wer(^ collected by Prof. II. W. Henshaw in 
1876 in the South Fork of Kern Riv(>r. They are No. 31228, U. S. National Museum, 
and are 1:5 and it inches long, respectively. Other j'oung' examples were obtained 
by Mr. Hensliaw in C-arson River, Nevada. In ISitl Mr. Vernon Bailey collected a 
specimen in Reese River, Nevada. These are the oidy specimens that have l)een 
recorded. The species was not seen 1)V us. 

CalostomuK ai:mpa>i Jordan, A Synopsis of the Family Catonloiniihr, in Bull. U. S. Xat. Miis., XI], 173, 
1878. .Tordiin & Henshaw, Report upon the Fishes eolleeted during the years 1875, ]87(i, and 
1877, in California and Nevada, in Annual Report of Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army, for 1878, 
Appendix N N, p. 1610, pi. ui. Gilbert, Kept, on Fishes of the IJeath Valley I'.xpedition, in 
North Ameriean Fauna, No. 7, \>. 229, May 31, 1893. 

Pantosteus ar.rnjiiis, .Inrdun A Kveruiaiin, Fishes Noith aM<l Middle America, 172, 1896. 

2. Catostomus occidentalis A\ res. Siicntniinio Sueliv. 

Common in all the laroer streams of the I'eg'ion. Several were seen in the 
Middle Fork of the Kaweah near Threerivers and in the North Fork at _ Redstone 
Park. One of our party cauo-ht one with his hands in an irrigating ditch near Red- 
stone Park July 11. Exceedingly aljundant in Kern Lake and common in Kern 
River in all suitable places. At the head of the lake is a good deal of grassy border 
in water up to 18 inches deep. In this the suckers were common and many were 
seined. In the lower part of the lake on the west or right side are many logs lying- 
in water 1 to 6 feet deep. Among these logs large suckers were very abundant. 
When not disturbed thej' lay quietly in one place or swam slowly about at the 
surface, nosing around evidently in search of food, sucking off the algie growing on 
the logs. Sometimes they luight be seen even l.ying on top of logs that were entirely 
submerged. As many as twenty or thirty might be seen in one bunch, and there 
must have been luore than a thousand all told among these logs. Some of them 
were very large, certainly at least 2 feet long. One example, 23 inches long, had the 
scales 10-70-9; dor.sal 12; anal 8; upper lip with 2 rows of papilla?, the lower with 
7 or 8. 

3. Mylopharodon conocephalus (Baird & (irirard). Kmneah ChuJj; "-Lal-e Fixh.^' 

This fish was found in all the forks of the Kaweah immediately above Three- 
rivers, and doubtless occurs even more abundantly below that place. The lai-gest 
and most numerous examples were seen in the Middle Fork. It will take almost 



THE (ioLDKN TROI'T. 



17 



any Uiiul i)f line. Examples wi-H' taken with worm, trolliny s])()()n. and artificial Hy. 
It possesses some game qualities, rankino- with the Oregon chub in that respect. 
Both of these species are locally called '•lake tish" or "lake trout," evidently from 
the fact that they were formerly very abundant in Tulare Lake, from whicli in 
spring they ascended the streams in great luimbers. 

4. Ptychocheilus oregonensis (Richardson). 

Stpittic'p'Kh; Sdcnniit'nto Pilt>; '^LiiTic Fisli.^^ 

This large minnow is abundant in tiie lower itortions of all the forks of the 
Kawcah. We saw it at all the fords, and specimens were ol)tained from North Fork 
at Redstone Park and from Middle and South forks near Threerivers. They wej'c 
caught with worms, artificial fly, and trolling spoon. Though they would rise to 
the fly they preferred worms, which they devoured ravenously. One of our party 
took with the spoon several large examples, one 2 feet long, weighing pounds. 
Another, taken July 13 by Britten Brothers f I'om the main Kaweah, was 28 inches 
long and weighed 7.25 pounds. It was a female full of nearly ri[)e eggs. The 
larger examples of this species are (juite game and make a very good tight. 

With the preceding this also is locally called "lake fish" or "lake ti'out." The 
])('ople of this region, however, seemed to know vei'v little al)out these tishes. They 
consider them bony and randy eat them. 

5. Rutilus symmetricus (Baird iSc (iirard). 

Head 3.8; depth ■t..5; eye 4.3; snout 2.7; scales l2-«2-7; L). it; A. 8; teeth 4-5, 
hooked and with a narrow grinding surface. Three specimens in the collection from 
South Fork of the Kaweah above Threerivers July 11, where it was common. 
They are 4 to 5.5 inches long and are (juite dark in color. The two smaller speci- 
mens have the tip of the lower jaw hardened into a horny sharp edge. The largest 
specimen shows onh' a remnant of this hardened edge. 

The species is found chiefly in shallow water. It takes the hook with a \im and 
will rise to the ai'titicial fly, but prefers worms. 

THE THOUT OK TIIE KEKN KIVEU REGION. 

The native trout of the Kei'u River region represent at least four well-marked 
species or subspecies, all belonging apparently to the rainl)ow-trout series. They 
are as follows: (1) The Kern River trout (Sn/i/i." tiUhcrti), occuri-ing only in Kern 
River and possibly in the lower portions of some of its larger tributaries. The tyi)c 
locality is Kern River at Soda Spring. This is the species from which it is believed 
all the other native trout of the Kern basin have descended. (2) The Soda Creek 
trout, native to Soda Creek, Wet Meadow Creek, Little Kern River, Coyote Creek, 
and possibly other small western tributaries of Kern River, and introduced from 
Soda Creek into the headwaters of the South Fork of the Kaweah at South Fork 
Meadows, and elsewhere. (3) The South Fork of Kern golden trout {Salmn ngna- 
hoiilfn)^ described originally from Cottonwood Creek, into which it had been 
introduced, but native only to the South Fork of the Kern and its tributaries. 
(4) The golden trout of Volcano Creek. This is the real "golden trout" and is 
native only to the one stream — Volcano Creek. 

B. B. F. Wib—-i 



18 BULLETIN OK THK BUREAIT OF FISHERIES. 

Compariiio- the trout from these various .streiuus the followiiiustiitonients appear 
to be justitied: 

(1) Tlie Kerii Hivei- trout is piofusely and closely spotted o\cr the entire body. 
head, and on all the tins, and the belly is not richly colored. 

{)i) Tlie Soda Creek trout has nunierons black spots on iiead. I)ack. and enti'^r 
lenj^'th of side botii above and below lateral line, but the pt'ctorais. \ entials. and anal 
are witliout spots, and the belly is rich orange in color. 

(3) 'I'he South Fork of Kern golden trout is sparsely spotted on <"uida I peduncle, 
along side only above lateral line, and on top of head. There are no spots below the 
lateral line. The belly is rich orange. 

(-t) The golden trout of Volcano. ('re(dc is cntircdy witliout spots, except on 
the caudal peduncle and occasionally a few aboNc the lateral line posterior to the 
dorsal tin. The belly is a \ery rich cadmium. 

The different species may be descril)ed in detiiil as follows: 

6. Salmo gilberti (.Jordan), /um Rhvi-r Trout; (iilhrrt Trout. 
(I'late xv. ) 

Head -t in length to base of caudal; depth S.ti; eye ;"> in head; snout 4.;-!; niax- 
illar}^ l.ti; mandible i.;!; preorbital 20; .scales small, about l<i."» in laterid line; dor- 
sal tin with 14 rays; anal I'i. Body stout, moderately compressed, deepest slightly 
in front of dorsal; head long, conic, snout pointed; mouth large, ma.xillarv long and 
narrow, reaching more than an eye's diameter beyond the eye; mandible .slightly 
curved; teeth on lower jaw rather strong, wide-set, in a single series, those on max- 
illary strongest; caudal peduncle stout, its least depth equal to snout and eye. Fins 
all well developed; origin of dorsal midwa}' between tip of snout and base of tail, the 
longest I'ay nearly two in head, base of tin sligiitly greater than heiglit; caudal broad, 
truncate, the lobes ecjual, exceeding height of dorsal; base of anal equaling height of 
tin, also height of dorsal; origin of ventrals somewhat posterior to that of dorsal and 
much nearer base of caudal than tip of snout, longest ventral ray ecpial to longest 
dorsal ray; longest pectoral ray exceeding by one-fourth the height of dorsal. 

Color in life, iiead, body, and tins everywhere profuselj' and rather uniforml}' 
covered with small black spots, those on body .stellate, those on tins oblong, those on 
head roundish and more sparse; inner half of ventral and pectoral less spotted; 
anterior rays of dorsal scarcely tipped with lighter; anal and ventrals with the 
anterior rays white at tip; adipose dorsal olivaceous with three or four black .spots; 
side broadly rich rosy red, ))roadest and In'ightest near middle, least distinct on 
caudal peduncle; lower half of side slightly pink and pale bluish;' belly witii .slight 
irregular wash of old gold on dirty-white ground color; back and uitper i^art t)f side 
(ilnuceous with tine yellow, orange, or lemon specks; cheek and opcrcles rich rosy; 
little or no red on throat, no red dash on membrane betweiMi rami of lower jaw; few 
spots on side of head; top of head olive green, well covered with round black .s^iots. 

The above description and the accompanying colored jjlate (\)\. xv) from an 
example (a male) 18.25 inches long and weighing 3.5 pounds caught l)v me July li) 
in Kern River about one-half mile al>ove Kern Lake. 

Another example, weighing 2 pounds, taken the same day at the lower end of 
Kern Lake, was described as follows: Color on liack and upjxM- thiixl of sitle very 



BULL. U. S. B. F. 1905 




THK OOI.DKN TKOUT. 19 

il;irk olivaceous; iiiiddlc of side with a broad ptilc rosy band from check to caudal 
tin; lower side dirty silvery; Ijelly white with dirty wash; l)ack and entire side closely 
covered with small roundish black spots, scarcely less numerous on middle and lower 
part of side to level of ventral than on back; spots coverino- toj) of liead, 2 rows 
b(>low eye, one spot on opercle, t! on maxillary, and about in on tip of lower jaw; 
cliei'k and opercles rosy; lower part of head faint rosy, with dusky wash; vortical 
lins all thickly spotted; upper half of pectoral and ventral spotted; anal and ventral 
tijjped anteriorly with white; dorsal and adipose dorsal slijiiitly \vhite-ti[)ped; throat 
with sliuht yellowish wash; inside of mouth white. 

Another example (a male IS inch(>s lono), caught l)v one of our party in Kern 
River above the lake, had top of head, back, and entire side closely covered with 
small roundish l)lack spots, similar spots coverino- vertical tins and some on pectorals 
and ventrals; cheek and opercles dark rosy, with a few ))lack spots; general color 
dark olivaceous; side with modei'ately distinct rosy liand. 

This species is abundant in Kern Lake and in the river for several miles above 
the lake. It is prol>al)ly common in the river for some miles below the lake, but of 
this I lia\'e no personal knowledge, as we did no collecting below the lake. As a 
rule, the tish taken from the liver are more deeply and l)i'ightly colored and 
decidedly more game than those from the lake. During the spawning season early 
in the spi'ing the fish are found ehiefl}' in the river, but after the spawning has been 
(■ompleted they tend to run down into the lake, where they become less active and less 
liighly colored. The large examples which we took in the lake were, as a rule, more 
slender than those from the river, pi-obably on account of the fact that those from 
the lake were all spent fish. 

This species is said l)v •Fordan and Kvciinann" to rea<'h a W(>ight of S jiounds^ 
but I do not recall the authority upon which the statement was based. The largest 
example seen by us was the one upon which the above description is basetl. It was 
Is. '25 inches long and weighed 8. .5 pounds. Several othei- examples L-t to lit. 25 '' inches 
long were caught by us. The largest individual of which I have a definite record 
was caught in 1900 in the river above the lake by Mi'. E. I). Cox and weighed byMr 
I). J. Cruice, both of Bakersfield, Cal. This fish was 27.5 inches long and weighed 5 
pounds 11- ounces. 

The Kern River trout is a beautiful lisli. well l)uilt and synunetrical, and very 
rich in coloration when in prime condition. As a game fish it will stand easily among 
tlu! best, ])ut, as already stated, in the river it greatly exc^els those of its kind in the 
lake. It usually takes the i\y ((uite freely, and will, of course, take all sorts of live or 
rut bait. Members of our party took these trout with the aiiificial fiy, with grass- 
liopp(>rs (which they greatly preferred), and with pi(H-es of fish or other meat. The 
large example painted was first tried with a gray hackle, to which he rose once and 
then paid no more attention to it. A larger, ]>lain hook and a good-sized grass- 
ho])per were substituted, with better results. Scarcely had the lure touched the 
water wdien ho rose and struck most viciously, only to miss it, then turn and strike 
again more viciously than before. This time the hook caught inside the mouth just 
under the middle of the maxillary, and then began a fight that would delight a better 

" Kishes North and Middle America, j). 502. 

^ AltlloUKh ttie longest fiyh ciiu^ht by us, lhi.s was a slender indiviilual w fi;;liinti under :i pounds. 



2'> HILLKTIN OF THK HUREAr' OF FISHKRIKS. 

aiiylci' than I. He first ciicled ahoiit in a \\ide cuixe. then jiunixMi twice, clearing 
the water l)eautifiilh' each time: circled a.^airi, went to the l)()tt()ni in water 10 feet 
deep, came to the surface and juinped again, after which no more leaps were made, 
but he continued dashini^- ahout until finally brought to net. 

Another o()od-sized example (2 pounds) was taken July lit at the drift in the 
lower end of the lake. This fish was seen swinmiint;- slowly down the lake at a deptli 
of about 3 feet. A cast l)i-oui,dit a rise at onci*. Missinji', he turned and came again, 
not with a rush, but deliberately, ami took the lure. He pulled and tugged vigor- 
ously, rushed a bit. junqied once, shaking his head savagely, ran inshore then out 
again. Then I reeled him in. but three times he dashed away before 1 could use the 
landing net. This was the gnmes( lish caught in the lake, and was not much inferior 
to those taken in the liver. Another larg(M'xample caught in the lake .Inly 20 broke 
watci' six times licfore coming tn net. ami was really \erv game. 

Trout appear to be (piite abundant in Kern Hi\('r. but it is doubtful whether 
they will long remain so. During the few days we were at Kern Lake, six or seven 
other parties were lamped at or near the lake, each party consisting of from two to 
t(>n people. ( )ne party of two. excellent anglers and ti'ue sportsmen, had been there 
for more than two months. They tished more or less ev(M'y day, always with the Hy, 
and usually threw bacdv all they caught, especially the smaller ones. Another party 
of two W(>re observed to go out upon the lake every day, tie their dugout to a snag, 
and devote the entire day to jerking out the trout. They kept it up day after daj', 
and none wa.s too small for their ci-eel. On one o('casioii they were noticed to have 
at least 3() fish (! to 12 inches lont;'. And most of the other parties wei'e doing about 
the siime. 

At this I'ate the trout can not long continue abundant in this stream. All tishiug 
in the lake should be prohibited, the daily catch from the river should be limited to 
10 tish per rod, and 8 inches should be the minimum legal size. 

This species was named for Dr. Charles H. Ciilbert, professor of zoology in 
Stanford University, who collected the type July 13, IS'.tS, from Kern River at Soda 
Spring. 

Sdlmo rjainJiirri (jilherli .Ionian, Tliirtecnth IMcnnial Ke|iiii-t State Hoard Fisli ( 'oiiiniissioiu'iv ( 'aliforiiia 

for 1893-94 (1894), p. 143, witli plate. 
Salmo irideux (filherti, .Jordan & Evermann, Fisliej^ North ami Mill. Anier., 502, 1896. Jordan & Ever- 

iiiann, American Food and Game Fishe;^. 2iH. 1902. 

7. Salmo whitei Evermann, new species. (ruhji'n Tnmt <if Sadit Creek. 

(Plate \vi.) 

Head 3.22 in length; depth 3.68; eye 4.54 in head; snout 3.33; maxillary 1.72; 
mandibl(> 1.66; interorbital 3.57; longest dorsal ray 2.08; longest anal ray 2.17; 
pectoral 1.66; ventral 2.17; caudal lobes 1.61. Body rather .stout, moderately coni- 
pres.sed; head conic; mouth large, oblique, jaws subeqiial; maxillary long and slender, 
reaching much beyond the eye; teeth on jaws, tongue and palatines well developed; 
caudal peduncle deep, its least depth about ecpial to distance from ti)) of snout to 
middle of eye. Fins well developed; origin of dorsal somewhat nearer tip of snout 
than base of caudal tin; insertion of ventral about under middle of dor.sal fin. Scales 
small, but noticeably larger than in the Volcano Creek trout. 



BULL. U. S. B. F. 1905 



ii%<*v".':"' 





THE OOLDEN TROUT. 21 

Color in life, hack aiul uppor part of side light olive; side and hack profiisel\' 
covered with small roundish hlack spots, these extending on top of iiead, vertical 
fins, and on side helow lateral line; side with 10 large roundish parr-mai'ks and a 
hroadish median band of light-brick or terracotta red; lower part of side light 
lemon-yellow with a number of bluish-black blotches, chieflv anteriorly, somewhat 
larger than similar ones on back; belly from tip of lower jaw to anal fin i-ich orange- 
red or cadmium, richest between pectoral and ventral tins, this t)and the full width of 
the belly; no red dash on throat; suborbital pale rosy or purplish; cheek brassy, 
with a large dark blotch; opercle rosj* orange, olivaceous above; dorsal tin with 
about live rows of small round black spots and a black border except anteriorly, 
where the raj's are tipped with a light-rosy border; pectoral light yellowish; ventral 
and anal reddish, with liroad white edge; caudal profusely spotted with hlack like 
the dorsal tin. 

In spirits all the l)right colors have faded, but the l)Iack spots remain distinct. 
These spots are largest on the caudal peduncle, over which they are evenly distributed. 
They are also pretty evenly distributed over the entire side and top of head; the 
space along the lateral line, however, has fewer spots. Those below the lateral line 
extend more than halfway to the belly and are somewhat smallei' than thos(^ above. 
About fourteen spots show on side of head. 

There is not much variation in color, as shown l)y examination of many exam})les. 
In all, the black spots completely cover the caudal peduncle and the entire length of 
side from median line of hack to some distance below the lateral line; the top and sides 
of the head are alwaj's spotted. The middlt^ line of the side and the l)elly are always 
richly colored, the parr-marks always present, and the dorsal, anal, and ventral fins 
bright-edged. No conspicuous red dash was observed on the lower jaw in any of the 
specimens from South Fork of Kaweah, Soda Creek, or Wet Meadow Creek, hut 
among those from Coyote Creek were some showing considerable color. 

\ cotype was described as follows: Back and top of head light brown with numer- 
ous small black spots extending on dorsal and caudal fins and on side distinctly to 
lateral line and below it less plainly, those on caudal peduncle largest and blackest; 
black spots also on top of head and halfway' down sides on opercles and cheek; 
middle of side with a broad red or orange-red band extending from just behind base 
of pectoral to about middle of anal, l)roadest in middle portion; a largo blotch of 
same color on opercle and some on cheek; thirteen distinct parr-marks on side, a 
row of smaller similar spots below; lower part of side light brown; a broad reddish 
or oi'ange Ijand along ventral line from throat to vent, the antei'ior part yellowish; 
dorsal Hn covered with small hlack spots except anterior upper margin, whi(^h is light 
pink, whole distal edge, except the pink, margined witii black, not (pate continuous; 
pectoral olivaceous, with pink tinge, overlaid with dusky; venti'als same color as 
pectorals, but the piidv more pronouni'ed and the exterior distal edge white; anal 
same as ventral, bordered with white; caudal spotted like the dorsal, but no pink 
edge; adipose same as hack, margin hlack, one spot on base. 

In alcohol all of the specimens fi'om South Fork Meadows are profusely covered 
with small, round, well-defined hlack spots on caudal peduncle, side, both al)ove and 
bidow lateral line, and on top of head. The dorsal, anal, and ventral are light-edged 
in all. These specimens all seem to ditlVr from South Fork of Kern specimens in the 



22 KHLLETIN OP THK HHRKAr OK FISHKRIKS. 

orcjitcr miiiiljcr of spots, iuul parliciilai-ly in tlic iJirsciRC of spots below the lateral 
line. The}' diH'er from tlie six speciiiieiis ohtaini'd in South Fork of Kawoah near 
Threerivers in having more spots below tlie lateral line and having the spots much 
more nearly round; besides, those from Threei'ivers in life were decidedly ditiercnt 
in color, as shown by the life-color notes. 

The collection contains It) specimens from the South Fork of the Kaweali Ri\-ei' 
at South Fork Meadows and ?> from Soda Creek at Quinns Horse Caui]), about ."> 
miles distant. Besides these specimens, we examined perhaps 2.5 others from those 
two places. They range in length from 5.5 to 7.75 inches and are quite unifoi-m in 
size. They show little or no mori^ variation in cokir than is indicated by the pre- 
ceding descriptions. 

The collection al.so contains five specimens from Wet Meadow Creek, which are 
in some respects the finest that were ol)tained. They range in length from 7 to 9.75 
inches and show some variation in spotting. The smallest two of these ai'e more 
sparsely spotted than any of the others; nevertheless they show spots the full length 
of the side and some spots l)elow the lateral line. The largest specimen (cotype No. 
53398, U. S. N. M., 9.75 inches long) is rather mon; completely spotted than the 
type. The two other Wet Meadow Creek specimens (cotypcs), although lajgcr than 
the type, ai-e .spotted very much like it. 

A large number of examples were examined from Little Kern, taken chieHy in 
the vicinity of Hroder's cabin: of these, three were saved. Th(\y agret^ in all 
respects with those from South Fork Meadows. 

Forty-four excellent specimens were obtained from Coyote Creek. These wer(> 
taken at various places between the headwaters and the mouth of the stream. This 
creek has several falls which doubtless at present are barriers to the ascent of tish; 
nevertheless trout are found throughout the entire length of the stream, and are 
abundant immediately below and al)0ve each of the falls. Evidently the peopling of 
the entire stream was accomplished before the falls were formed or became impass- 
able barriers. An examination of the large series of specimens shows them to be a 
very perplexing lot; the amount of variation among them is very great, and it is not 
without hesitation that I refer them all provisionall_y to Sahiio vh'ttei. In general 
they all agree essentially in being well spotted, although occasionally a s)K'cimen is 
seen with fewer spots below the lateral line. The spots, however, vary considerably 
in size; in some they are larger than in the South Fork Meadows tish, in others they 
are smaller; in many the spotting is more complete. In life some examples were 
(|uite dark in general coloration, and several showed red or yellow between the rami 
of the lower jaw. An eti'ort was made to see whether these difterences could be cor- 
related in any way with different particular parts of the stream, and there is consider- 
able evidence that such correlation can t)e made. It is believed that all the specimens 
taken between any two falls agree better among themselves than they do with those 
from any other portion of the stream, and it seems that we have here a numlier of 
differentiations now in progress which promise to become of taxonomic value. For 
the present these trout are all considered to be conspecitic with those from South 
Fork Meadows and Soda Creek. 

As stated elsewhere in this report, the headwaters of the South Fork of the 
Kaweah were originally without trout iind were stocked with Hsli from Soda Creek 



THK CiOLDKN TROt'T. 28 

;it Quiniis Horse Canip, ;ukI this species may therefore very properly he called the 
Soda Creek trout. It is known to reaeh a length of about ID inches, takes the fiy 
readily, and is a good Mghtcr. Though less brilliantly colored than the golden trout 
of Volcano Creek, it is in every respect a l)eautiful and attractive tish. 

Type, No. 53065, U.S.N.M, a specimen 7.75 inches long, taken in the South 
Fork of Kaweah River in South Fork Meadows, by the writer, July 15, 1904. 
Cotypes: No. 53399, U.S.N.M., 7.25 and 7.5 inches long; No. 1252, Bureau of 
Fisheries, 6.5 inches long; and No. 9254, Stanford University, 6.25 inches long. 

I am pleased to name this beautiful trout for Stewart Edward White, author of 
The Blazed Trail. 

8. Salmo agua-bonita (Joi'dan). (rolch')! Trout of South fori- of Ki-rn R/'r<r. 

Head 3.68 in length: depth 3.85; eye 4.4 in head; snout 4.4; ma.xillary 2.09; 
mandible 2.00; interorbital 3.66; longest dorsal ray 2.09; base of dorsal 1.8; longest 
anal ray 1.69, pectoral 1.63; ventral 2.00; caudal lobes 1.46; base of anal 2.1. Body 
stout, moderately elongate; head short, snout blunt; mouth moderate, maxillary 
extending somewhat beyond orl)it. ridatively broader than in the Kern River trout; 
teeth on jaws, maxillary, palatines, and vomer well develojied; tins moderate; caudal 
peduncle compressed, its least depth C((ual to distance from tip of snout to posterior 
edge of pupil; scales relatively large. 

Color in life, back and upper part of side light olivaceous; entire body above 
lateral line, including head, sparselj' covered with rather large roundish black spots, 
these extending below lateral line on caudal peduncle; spots on side anterioi- to doi'sal 
tin usually few; usually a few spots on median line of back between origin of dorsal 
and head; snout and top of head usually with a few spots; 2 or 3 spots sometimes 
on side of head; middle of side with a somewhat distinct rosy band, plainest at mid- 
dle; parr -marks always present; side below lateral line light golden yellow; belly 
scarlet, ])rightest from ventral halfway to isthmus; under side of head, except jaw, 
reddish orange; cheek light golden yellow anteriorly, rosy or coppery posteriorly; 
dorsal and anal fins profusely spotted, the other tins with no spots, the anal dusky; 
adipose tin with edge black, and 2 small black spots; anterior dorsal rays tipped with 
reddish orange; ventrals and anal .red. tipped with orange white; ])ectoral bronze. 
The abo^■e description chietly from a specimen 7.75 inches long. 

Another example S.5 inches long was dark olivaceous above, had few spots in 
fi-ont of anal tin, and those mostly posterior to anterior base of dorsal tin; a few 
spots on top of head; caudal peduncle with numerous spots, both above and below 
lateral line; parr-marks large and distinct, 11 in number, a few small detached spots 
similar in color below them, and 1 to 3 such spots on side of head; lateral band rather 
indistinct, of a brick-red color, extending from middle of anal tin to al)out midway 
between front of dorsal and head; side below lateral l)and light golden yellow; belly 
reddish from throat to anterior edge of anal fin, the triangle just behind isthnuis 
bounded by whitish; liranchiostegal region rich orange; lower jaw greenish yellow 
(the stipple marks greenish); opercle and preoperde with a coppery tinge; anterioi- 
portion of cheek light golden yellow; dorsal and caudal fins with numerous black 
spots; adipose dorsal edged with black and with 3 round black spots; other tins 



24 Ktll.LETIN OK THK KHREAr OK FTSHERIP^S. 

iniinaculiitc; anterioi- i-ays of dor.sal aiul anal and outer rays of vciitials with wliitisli 
orange tips; ppctonil bronze: ventrals reddish; anal s^reenisli t)ronz;e. 

An examination of numerous examples shows some slisj-ht variations in I he colors. 
The parr-marks are sometimes less regular, and the exact shade of the hi-ioht lateral 
band and the color of the belly vary somewhat. These, however, are simply ditfer- 
ences in intensity rather than in pattern. The extent of the spotting on the body is 
the best diagnostic character. The South Fork of Kern trout are almost invariably 
well spotted, not only on the caudal peduncle but also along the side above the lateral 
line, at least as far forward as the front of the dorsal fin. There are also usually a 
few spots on the anterior part of side and along median line of back between dorsal 
and head; snout and top of head spotted, and usually a few spots on side of head; but 
there are no spots below the lateral line except on the caudal peduncle. 

The type and a cotype of this species, which I have examined in the National 
Museum, consist of two specimens 7 and 8 inches long. respecti\ely. The larger 
specimen is in rather bad condition and shows no spots distinctly except on the 
caudal peduncle. The other and better specimen shows plainly a number of spots 
along the side above the lateral line, even to the gill-opening. A colored sketch of 
the specimen which Dr. Jordan took as the type has lieen kindly loaned to me by 
Dr. C H. (Hlbert. The drawing is bj' E. L. Ames and is labeled "Type of Salmo 
it(fi(<t-li(inlt(r^ in Dr. Gill)ert's writing. This drawing shows a number of spots along 
the side above the lateral line even forward to the gill-opening, and was evidently 
made from the smaller and better preserved specimen in the National Museum. 
This specimen is therefore certainly the one which Dr. Jordan took as his type of 
the species and agrees very closely with the majority of the large series (3!> exam- 
ples) of specimens in my collection. Of my H'.i specimens all but 5 are more or less 
profusely spotted above the lateral line along the entire hnigth of the side and on top 
of head and snout. 

In the National Museum are 2 specnmens (No. -Kil20), collected in Cottonwood 
Creek (into which the species was introduced from South Fork of Kern) September 
12, 1S91, by Basil Hicks Dutcher for the Biological Survey, Department of Agricul- 
ture. These specimens are 0.5 and 7 inches long. The smaller one still shows a 
numbei- of dark spots along side above the lateral line at least as far forward as the 
beginning of the dorsal. In the other the spots have faded and are not distinct 
except on the caudal peduncle. Two other specimens (No. 4(!li!l)are in the National 
Museum, collected in 1891 by Mr. F. Stephens, also for the Biological Survey, in 
the South Fork of the Kern at about 6,5(H» feet altitude. They are 4.5 and f!.25 
inches long, and each is profusely spotted above the latei-al line for entire length of 
body and on snout and top of head. 

The first record of trout from this poi-tion of the Sierras is that by Jordan and 

I Henshaw in the Report of the Chief of Engineers of the Army, for 1878. In this 

report a single specimen (No. 17107, U. S. Nat. Mus.) is recorded. It was caught 

in 1875 by Mr. H. W. Henshaw from the South Fork of Kern River, Kern County, 

Cal., and was identified as Sdlmo irideux. 

Not until seventeen years later did other specimens from this locality c^ome into 
the hands of any ichthyologist. In 18!»2 Dr. David S. Jordan received three small 
ti'out from Mr. W. II. Shockley, of San Francisco, to whom they had been sent by 



THK GOLDEN TKoUT. 25 

Mr. (Teorg-f T. Mills, stutt' tisii coiiimissioiu'i- of Nfvadii, who hiid roccivcd thmii 
troni Mr. A. C. Harvey, of Lone Pine, Inyo County. Cal. The nienioranduni awoni- 
panyino- the specimens when they came into Dr. Jordan'.s possession was to the 
eliect that the fish had l)een "taken by Mr. Harvey, of Lone Pine, Cal., in a stream 
called by him * Whitney Creek ' (more correctly Volcano Creek), on the west side of 
the Sierras neai' Mount Whitney." Dr. Jordan described these specimens as a 
new subspecies uikI(M- the name Saliiio myl-isx iKjiKi-honltd in the Proceeding's of the 
L'^. 8. National Museum for 1892", pag;e 4-81. 

In 1891 members of the Death Valley F^xpedition of the C S. Biulooical Survey 
collected a luimber of trout in this reg;ion, as follows: Mr. Vernt)n Bailey, 2 specimens 
from Volcano Creek in Whitney (Volcano) Meadows; Mr. Y. Stevens, 2 specimens 
from South Fork of Kern River, and Mr. B. H. Dutclier, 2 specimens from Cotton- 
wood Creek. These were examined by Dr. Chas. H. Gilbert, who repoi'ted on them 
in North American Fauna No. 7 as Salmo uii/k/vs agiia-honita. 

Ill the sunnner of 1893 Dr. Gilbert visited the Kern River region and 
obtained specimens of trout from Kern River at Soda Spring and from Volcano 
Creek. The former were described l)y Dr. Jordan in 189-4 as Sa/mu (jairdiH'ri 
ililhui}.'' 

It has since developed that the specimens sent to Dr. Jordan liy Mr. Sbockley, 
antl upon which Dr. .lordan based his description of Saliita mi/kisx <t(/K(i-li(mitit^ did 
not come from \\'hitney (Volcano) Creek, but from Cottonwood Creek; they are 
therefore identical with the trout of the South Fork of the Kern, from which came 
I he original stock of Cottonwood Creek. 

Trout seem tt) be abundant in the South Fork of the Kern. On -July 23, in a 
few minutes at the tunnel I caughf S good examples, 5 to 7.5 inches long.' The col- 
lcctit)u contains a total of 40 specimens from 4 to 8 inches in length. The game 
(|ualities of these trout are good. They take the fly readily, and for their size make 
a good tight. They can apparently l)e taken at any time of day and with any sort 
of lure. How far down the South Fork of the Kern they are foiuid is not known, 
l)ut it is likely they occur well toward the mouth of that stream. They pi-obably do 
not attain a greater weight than one or two pounds in the South Fork, but it is said 
they ri'ach a much greater size in the Cottonwood Lakes. I have been told that trout 
u-cighing 5 pounds have been caught in those lakes, but this needs verification. 

Professor Henshaw gives the following very interesting account of the habits of 
this trout as observed by him in l.s7r): 

III the tributaries of the South Fork of the Kern River these trout are foiuul in very great 
abundance, each pool and rapid numbering ib* iinny denizens by the score. Tliey may be taken in 
any sort of weather, at any hour of the day, by almost any kind of liait. During the heat of tlie day 
they frecjuent almost entirely the deeper pools, lying mider overshadowing rocks or in the shade of 
some eonvenient log. In early morning or late afternoon they come out and run more intu the shal- 
lows and rapids, under which eireumstances they bite best and afford the finest spurt. Like the 
average brook trout, the species rarely attains any considerable size, ranging from 4 U< S nr more 
inches in length. Their colors are usually very bright, ami for beauty tliis species takes rank among 
the foremost of its kind and has been well called the "gcilden trout." In this resi)ect, however, it is 
subject to the usual variation obtaining in the family, the change of color not only a(H'onipanying a 
difference in locality, but being plainly discernible in individuals taken in different parts of the same 



'I Actiml date nf pnlilir'iitidti .Inly 24. I.s'13. 

I'TliirU'ciilli Hii-nriiiil K.'|.t. V\-<h (Purlin. Cul., ISW. p. 113, Willi |.luU' 



26 BULLETIN OK THE HITREAU OF FISHERIES. 

stream not far ilintaiit. In tact, as a siici-ilii- cliaracter, rnl.ir in tliis family seems tu l>e at its lowest 
\'alne. 

The clianu'ter of the hottom and water itself has mneh to ilo with this, and I remeuil)er lo have 
tished ill a small rivulet on one of the snbalpine meadows not far from Mount Whitney, whose shi;;- 
ffish waters flowed over a bottom of dark mud, in which the color of the trout simulated very closely 
its hue; they had lost nearly all the flashiny; iridescent tints characterizing the same species caught 
hut a few hours before in another stream, and had become dull and .'Jomber-hued. Accompanying 
this change of color was a correspondingly noticeable difference in habits and motions, and the several 
dozen trout caught that evening for supi)er were taken out by the hook with the display of very little 
more gameness than would be noticed in so many horned jiout. ()n tlie contrary, in the clear, rai)id 
current of the mountain stream a flash of sunlight is si-arcely quicker than the gleam of gold and silver 
seen for a single instant as the whirling waters are cut by one of these trout as he makes a rush from 
his lurking place for some chance morsel which is being Iwrne past him. The western trout are 
rarely as shy as their relatives of eastern waters, and because of their mmdjers and the consequent 
scarcity of food are apt to he less fastidious; yet, even when most abundant, due caution must be used 
if one w'ould be successful, and not every one can catch trout, even in the West. With the jiroper 
care in concealing oneself, a |iool may be almost decimated ere the alarm will be taken, and 1 have 
seen 15 fair-sizeil trout taken from a single small pool in quick succession. 

The species was naiued tor Aotia-Bonita Falls in Voiciino Cfeek. midcf tlie 
erroneous supposition that the tyi)e came from thtit creek. 

Sdlmo iiiykixs agna-hoiiila .loi-dan, I'roc. 1'. S. Nut. Mns., XV, 1,S<IL> (July L>4, ISIW), 481, Cottonwood 

Creek, Inyo County, Cal. (iilliert, North Amer. Fauna, xNo. 7, 'IWl, .May .'il, IS!):;. 
Siilmo iriileux iKiiui-haiiitd, .Jordan & Kvermann, Fishes North and Mid. Amer., 1, MW, iswi (Oct. ;!). 
Stihmi tiijud-hoiiitd, Jordan it I'A'ermann, American Food anil (tame Fishes, 201, 19112. 

g. Salmo roosevelti Kvermtum, new species. 

(ro/drn Tnnit „f VoJrni,<, Cre,lc; Bnosrrrlf Tr.'ul. 

(I'late I.) 

Head 3.5 in leiig-th to base of caudal tin; depth 4; eye 5.(> in head; snout 3.4; 
maxillary l.S; iuandil)le 1.5; interorl)ital 3.7i*; D. 11; A. 11; lonj^est dorsal ra}^ l.S; 
longest anal ray 1.9; pectoral 1..S; ventral 2.1; caudal lobes 1.8; base of dorsal 1.9; 
base of anal 2.(3; least depth of caudal peduncle 2.(). Body stout, moderatel}- com- 
pressed; head conic, rather long; snout long; jaws subequal, mouth large, somewhat 
oblirjue; maxilhay long and narrow but slightl)' curved, extending much beyond 
orbit; teeth well developed on mandible, maxillary, palatines, front of vomer, and 
on front of tongue, the latter in two rows; caudal peduncle very stout. Fins all 
strong and well developed; origin of dor.sal midway between tip of snout and base of 
caudiil peduncle; base of ventrals under middle of dorsal; caudal broad, strong, 
little notched when fully spread; anal with its free edge somewhat falcate. Scales 
exceedingly- small, smaller than in any other known species of trout, nonimbricated. 
and scarcely showing unless dry; there are about 50 in an oblique series from front 
of dor.sal downward and backward to lateral line, and 40 from the lateral line down- 
ward and backward to the l>ase of the ventrals; there are about 200 scales in the 
lateral line, 14t) to 150 of them having pores. 

Color in life, back, top of head, and upper part of side very light j'ellowish 
olive; middle of the side from gill-opening to adipose tin with a broad bright rosy band, 
the greatest width of which is about equal to greatest diameter of orbit; side below 
lateral line 1)right golden yellow, fading below into yellowish white; belly with a 



TIIK (i(>I,DKN TROI'T. )H 

])i'():i(l ("uliiiiuin or d(>pp oniiijjc-rrii Imiul Iroiu throat to anal fin. the color di'epest 
Ix'tween pectoral and ventral; sonic red on belly l>et\veen origin of anal and base of 
eaiidal; about 10 roundish or vertically obiony- ])arr-iuarks on nihldle of side, upon 
which apparently the rosy lateral band is superimposed; '.i of these pai-r-niarks are 
on the caudal peduncle posterior to the adi[)ose fin, '2 between the adipose and dorsal 
lins, 1' under the dorsal, and 3 anterior to it; between the first and second large parr- 
marks and somewhat below them is a small round spot of the .same coloi', and there 
is a similar one between the fifth and sixth spots; cheek and opercles bright rosy, 
edged posteriorly and below with yellowish, an olivaceous blotch on upper f)art of 
cheek and a small ))lack spot on upper part of opercle; region about eye olivaceous 
yellow, especially below; lower jaw rosj\ with some yellowish, uiembrane between 
rami of lower jaw whitish, without rosy wash, tip of lower jaw olivaceous; mouth 
on sides and l)elow tongue orange, whitish elsewhere; side of caudal peduncle with 
about 80 small roundish black spots, these most numerous on posterior half, there 
})eing only 3 anterior to the adipos(> dorsal tin; rest of body entirely without spots; 
dorsal fin with about fi ii'regular series of small roundish black spots, those toward 
the distal portion largest and blackest; general color of dorsal fin light olivaceous 
yellow, the tips of the anterior rays with a ])road margin of whitish oi'ange; adipose 
floi'sal oli\aceous, narrowly bordered with black, and with '2 small I'ound ])lack spots; 
caudal fin profusely spotted with l)lack, the spots arranged irregularly in about S oi' 
10 vertical rows; those at the base blackest and roundest, those on the distal edge 
somewhat linear, those on the outer edges of the lobes extending forward onto the 
dorsal and ventral lines of the caudal peduncle; genei'al color of caudal tin yellowish 
and olivaceous, the lower lobe somewhat rosy; pectoral red, somewhat lighter than 
lateral l)and; ventral reddish, the sinterioi' i-ays edged with white; anal reddish with a 
little orange, the anterioi' half or two-thirds broadly edged with white. 

There is not much variation in color, except such as is probal)ly due to dilference 
in age; the rosy lateral band, the pari'-marks, and the broad rich cadmium \nu\d on 
the belly are characteristic. The variation in the black spots is inconsiderable. In 
the 2!' specimens which 1 have examined critically 15 do not show any spots whatever 
anterior to the adipose tin, and only '2 of the remaining 1-1 show any spots anterior 
to the dorsal fin, and these are obscure and few in num))er. In one large specimen 
there are but 12 to 1-t spots on the caudal jjeduncle; in another somewhat smaller 
example there are !)ut (i spots. 'rh(> dorsal, anal, and ventral tins are invarial)lv 
edg(>d with brighter color. Tlu' liea<l in the males is longei- and more pointed; the 
ma.xillary is also longer than in the females. When well spread the caudal fin is 
usual!}' slightly lunate or slightly notched, but in some examples it is almost truncate 
or siiuare. In alcohol all of the bright colors soon fade. the. parr-marks, black spots, 
and pale edges to the dorsal, anal, and ventral tins persisting. The general color of 
tlii^ body then becomes a dirty yellowish white or in some specinu'ns brownish. In 
some <'ases the parr-marks almost wholly di.sappear. 

The type specimen of this species is No. ii'SOii-i, U. S. Nat. Mus. Cotypes are 
No. .53400, U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 1351, Bureau of Fisheries, and No. !)255. Stanford 
University. It gives me great pleasure to name this superl) trout foi- '!'heodoi'(^ 
lloosevelt. ill recognition of his active interest in fish and game protection. 



28 BULLKTTK OK THE BURKAU OB' FISHERIES. 

This is tlu' most heiiutit'ul of all the trouts; th(x brillianc}' and richness of its 
eoloratioii is not ('(iiialod in any other known species; the delicate golden olive of the 
head, back, and upper part of the side, the clear jjolden yellow along- and below the 
lateral line, and the marvelou.sly rich cadmium of the under parts fullj' entitle this 
species to be known aljove all others as tlw golden trout. In form it is no less 
l)('iuitiful; its lines are perfect, the tins large and well proportioned, and the caudal 
peduncle strong; all fitting it admiral)ly for life in the turl)ulent waters in which it 
dwells. It is a small tish, however. The largest example collected by us was 11^ 
inches in total length and the heaviest one weighed 10 ounces. It is ])robable that it 
never attains a gi'eater length than 14 inches oraweightof more than a ])ound in Vol- 
cano Creek. 

The golden trout is native to Volcano Creek alone, and occurs throughout the 
entire length of that stream. We caught specimens at various places from al)ove the 
tunnel to below the lowermost of the series of falls near the mouth, and it was seen 
in all suitable places from the tunnel to the headwaters above Vok'ano Meadows, 
where the elevation is moi'e than 10,000 feet. Although the tish runs down Volcano 
Creek even to below the lowest falls, it apparentl}' does not venture out into Kern 
River; no examples were seen there. It is a creek fish and ajipeai's to keep within 
the peculiar environment of the small stream. Although we obtained a specimen at 
the foot of the first falls, it is doul)tful whether many individuals venture so far down. 

Trout are abundant in Volcano Creek; (>very pool at tiie foot of a fall or below 
a cascade or rapid was .'•ure to contain a number of them, and others were seen on 
the riffles and under the protecting l)anks. They were most numerous above the 
tunnel. proba))ly because fewer tourists visit that portion of the stream. The fish 
tiiere, however, were usually small. The largest, finest examples were seen between 
the natural bridge and the lower falls. 

As a game fish the goklen trout is one of the best. It will rise to any kind of 
lure, including the artificial Hy, and at any time of day. A No. 10 fi3' is large enough, 
perhaps too large; No. \'l or even smaller is much lietter. In the morning tuid again 
in the evening it would take the fl>' with a rush and make a good tight, jumping 
fretiuently when permitted to do so; during the middle of the day it rose more 
deliberately and could sometimes be tempted only with grasshoppers. It is a tish 
that does not give up soon but continues the tight. Its unusual breadth of tins 
and strength of caudal peduncle, together with the turbulent water in which it dwells, 
enable it to make a tight equaling that otlered b}' many a larger trout. 

Although now abundant the golden trout can not long remain so unless afforded 
some protection. The attractiveness of the Kern River region because of its scenic 
beauty is sure to appeal more and more to tourists eveiy year. Practically the 
entire length of Volcano Creek is easily accessible from the trail from Kern River 
to Mount Whitney, and that portion above the tunnel is covered by the trail from 
the east side of the divide. As a matter of fact one can in one day travel the entire 
length of the creek and have time to stop frequently to drop a Hj- into the pools 
which he passes. The trout are readily found and are easily captured, as they are so 
voracious and rise to the lure so readily. Two years ago the mem))ers of the Sierra 
Club and others accompanying them on their annual outing to Mount Whitney are 



THK fiOI.DKN TR<MTT. 29 

said to have taken (iOO or 70() trout from Volcano Creek in one day/' During tiie 
time our party was on Volcano Creek three to five other parties were camping at 
different places along its course. Each of those parties contained two to ten persons, 
and the}' all depended chiefly on the creek for their meat. How manj' trout were 
taken daily there is no nieatis of knowing, hut the numher must have been very large. 
One party of three acknowledged that they ate (55 one day for supper. 

KECOMJIENUATIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE (iOLDEN TROUT. 

Provision for the protection and preservation of the golden trout should proceed 
along two lines, viz: Through tish-cuitural operations and by imposing restrictions 
on its capture. 

Artljicial jn'opagation. — The golden trout is a hardy fisii and stands transporta- 
tion well, as shown by the following statement of Mr. Chas. A. Vogelsang, chief 
deputy of the California fish commission: '' 

ISouif years ago J. Su}) Johnson, of Visalia, lirouglit down some specimens of golden trout, but 
not being thoroughly familiar with the best methods to follow in transporting them he lost about four- 
tiff lis of the number. The remainiler were placed in our Sisson hatcliery, where we kept them for 
|iii)l)ably eight months, and where we expected to take spawn from them, but an accident to our water 
sui>ply cost us these fish. We hope this coming summer to send one of our experienced men into the 
Whitney Creek region to collect as many four-inch to six-inch trout as we can, transport them to Sis- 
son, and place them in our hatchery ponds to be used as breeders. 

In the spring of 1905 Mr. Earl L. Morris, of Stanford University, visited Cot- 
tonwood Creek and caught with hook and line and seine 50 trout, which he took 
without loss to San Francisco, where they were exhibited for several weeks at the 
Exposition of the Pacific P^ish and Game Association. They were then transferred 
without a fatalitj' to the Sisson hatchery, where they will be propagated by the 
Califoinia fish commission. This is the South Fork of Kern trout, but it is probabl}' 
no more hardy than the Volcano Creek species. 

In Ma3% l!t05, the United States Bureau of Fisheries attempted to establish a 
temporary station on Vok^ano Creek for the purpose of taking the eggs of the golden 
trout. It was found that the spawning season was practically over before the station 
could })e installed, and the matter was postponed temporarily. A number of fish 
(2t)-lr) were captured, however, and carried practicallj' without loss on pack animals 
to Lone Pine, whence they were shipped in care of a special messenger to the Lewis 
and Clark Exposition at Portland. Through a mishap, however, the entu-e lot was 
lost en route. 

Although the efforts thus far made have not proved successful, it is not believed 
that any real difficulties exist to prevent the carrying of trout from Volcano Creek 
to one or more of the trout hatcheries of the Bureau, and it is hoped that another 
efibrt may soon be made. If a number of fish can once be gotten to one of the 
hatcheries it will be easy to propagate the species artificially. 

There are many small mountain streams in the Western States where this fish 
would certainly thrive. It should also be tried in certain streams in the East. A 
small, clear stream, with low temperature and tine gravelly' bottom, preferabl}' of 

a Mount Whitney Club Journal, Vol I. No. 3, May. 1904. p. 11.5. 
(>ln a letter to Mr. John Brodur. dated November 30. 1904. 



30 BULLETIN OF THK HURKAU OK FISHERIES. 

yruiiito, is recoiinneiided. It would be extremely interesting to try the species in 
several streams and note the effects of the new environment. The possihilit}' of add- 
ing siu-li an attractive fish to the streams of other states is well worth a serious (effort. 
It is also desirable to establish a temporary hatchei-y <in Volcano Creek where (>ggs 
may be taken and eyed for shipment. 

Another thing that should be taken up at once, preferably i)y the California 
tish commission, is the stocking of barren waters in tlie Kern River region. As 
state(l elsewhere in this report, there arc inaii}' small streams and lakes of the 
southern High Sierras that are entirely without fish of any kind, although certainly 
well suited to trout. Among these may be mentioned Rock Creek, Guj^ot Creek, 
Whitney Creek and the lakes at its head, and many others. To stock these waters 
by transplanting from Volcano Creek would be a very easy matter. 

/'rofect/(i/i. —Afi already stated, it is only a (|uestion of time, a very few years at 
most, when the golden trout of Volcano Creek will become practically exterminated 
unless it receives some j)rotection. 

In order that ad(H[uate protection be secured, it is recounnended that the limits 
of the Mount Whitney Military Reservation be extended so as to include the whole 
of Volcano Creek. This can be (U)ne liy extending the eastern botmdary from the 
pi'esent southei-n boundary along the meridian of 118-10' to its intersection with 
th(? parallel of 86 20', thence west on that yjarallel to Kern River, which should be 
made the western boundary. The northern boundary should be extended westward 
to the main fork of Kern River. This would include all of Volcano Creek, the head- 
waters of Cottonwood Creek, and South Fork of the Kern, as well as all of Rock 
Creek and Whitney Creek. When the boundaries have been thus extended, fishing 
within the limits of the reservation should be absolutely prohibited for three years, 
after which it might be permitted under certain restrictions. These restrictions 
should provide a minimum size, limit the num))(>r that may he. caught, and prohibit 
•ill fishing during the sjjawning season. 

\Vith such regulations as these, together with the tisli-cultural opei-atioiis sug- 
gested, it is bebeved the golden trout will continue- an abundant tish and remain one 
of the great attractions of this interesting region. 

lo. Salmo Shasta Jordan. S/insfii Tnnit ; Ruiiilxiir Trout. 

This is the common rambow trout of tish culturists, which has been introduced 
into luany difi'erent waters in southern California. Specimens of a trout which we 
provisionally identify with this species were obtained at the following places: South 
Fork of Kaweah River 4 miles above Threern'ers, and at AUes's ranch about -1 miles 
farther up; Middle Fork of Tiile River in its iieadwaters; Middle Fork of Kaweah 
River just ))elow the new powerhouse, or about 1.5 miles below the mouth of the 
East Fork: and in Mail)li' Fork of Kaweah above the bridge on the road to the Giant 
Forest. 

The following life-color notes were madr by Hr. Jenkins on specimens obtained 
by him from Marble Fork: 

Specimen F: Dark olivaceous above to white on belly; no sign of color i)and on 
belly; color band on side brick red, narrow, brightest in center of bod}' and indis- 
tinct at the extremities; opercle and preopercle indistinct reddish, also marks on 



THE GOLDEN TROUT. 31 

throat light A'ellowish. not conspicuous: body covered with many rather large spots 
which extend nearly to helly; dorsal with dark spots irregularly placed; tips of about 
first (3 rays yellowish white; caudal spotted irregularly; pectoral dusky, with outer 
portions showing yellow; ventrals pinkish, with anterior margin white; anal reddisli, 
tips of about 5 anterior rays white. 

Specimen G: Like ])receding, except much lighter in general color; color band 
very faint; marks on throat almost ol)s(>lete; pectoral pale yellowish; venti'als pinkish 
with white tips; anal dusky, faint pink, with margin of white; spots on dorsal slight, 
show of white on tips. 

Specimen H: Similar to preceding in lightness of color, being light gray; spots 
on l)ody, top, and sides numerous and distinct; color band on side of body and color 
on opercles very indistinct; throat mark not distinguishable. 

Specimen I: Light gray spots nuinei-ous, small — few below lateral line; reddish 
band, throat marks, and color on opercles distinct; tins as in the preceding. 

Specimen J: Light gray, passing to white on lower sides and belly; reddisli band 
evident, but indistinct in extent; reddish on opercles; throat marks conspicuous, 
reddish orange; no spots on body; spots on dorsal, but few on caudal; pectoral faint 
yellowish; ventrals pinkisli with white tips; anal faintl3' dusky with white tips. 

Specimen K: Similar to above, but with few spots. 

Six examples taken from the South Fork above Threerivers were in alcohol pro- 
fusely spotted on the caudal peduncle, on side above lateral line, and usually on top 
of head with small irregular stellate black spots, quite different in shape from those 
found on the trout from South Fork Meadows. The Threerivers trout also seem to 
have a shorter head. Their life color was (piite different, being much less brilliant. 

An example caught at Alles's ranch showed side with a broad red or rosy band; 
(jpcrcle rosy; back and side above lateral line profusely and closely spotted; few 
spot.s on side below lateral line; nine parr-marks; dorsal with many round l)lack 
si)ots, the anterior edge of tin rosy; pectoral yellowish; ventral and anal dull red, 
edged with white; no red on throat. Twelve other trout were obtained at this place. 
They ranged in length from 5.5 to 8 inches and agreed essentially in coloi's. Most of 
them were somewhat silvery, but all showed the rosy lateral band, the parr-marks, 
and the white or ^^ellowish tips to the dorsal, anal, and ventral tins. 

Examples taken bj- Profes.sor (xreen in Middle Tule were described as follows: 
Back dark olivaceous or bluish; back and side covered with rather large roundish 
black spots, few and small in front of dorsal; spots on side extending to belly on 
nearly all; median line of side with a narrow i)and of light brick-red (not so bright 
nor so wide as in Soda Creek fish) from middle of pectoral to middle of anal, some- 
times farther back; cheek with dusky brassy; operde red above, paler Ixilow, with 
dusky wash; ))elly white, sometimes dirty white, no orange or red; pectoral yellow- 
ish; ventral dusky yellow, edged with white; dorsal same as back, with S or 4 rows 
of spots, anterior distal edge creamy white with some orange; margin black; caudal 
with fewer spots than South P^ork of Kaweah trout; anal pale, with a few small spots 
on base; white-edged; adipose fin margined with black. 

Another example 8.25 inches long was described as follows: Spots on caudal same 
as dorsal; no red on lowei' jaw; blotches of immature trout plain; anterior half of 
dorsal edged with yellowish white; first ray and tips of 3 or -i anterior rays of fins 



32 HULLETIN OK THE lUIRKAU OF FISHERIES. 

niari;iiicd with white; pectoral yellowish; aiitcrior half of ventral ;iiul anal tins n^d- 
dish; adipose tin inuri>ined with black; side not silvei-y except in siiiall indiviiluuls. hut 
irregularly blotched with color similar to immature markings; latend band not con- 
tinuous, but broken by blotches on immature examj)le and not extending to caudal 
or to cheek; color of band light brick red. lighter red on cheeks. 

In alcohol these trout closely resemble those from South Fork Meadows. The 
spots, however, ajjpear to be rather larger and less regular in form. They differ 
from the Threerivers trout in being decidedly more spotted below the lateral line; 
the spots, how-ever, are of the same shape in these two groups. In life these Tule 
trout resemitled the South Fork Meadow trout in their bright coloration, but it was 
noticed then that the l)lack spots were different in shape. The !) examples caught in 
Middle Tule ranged from 5.75 to 9 inches in total length, and closely resemble those 
taken in Middle Fork of Kaweah aliove Threerivers. 

II. Salmo clarkii Kichai-dson. ('\it-ihnnit Tnnif. 

Four specimens obtained from Marble Fork, one-half mile above the bridge on 
the road to the (riant Forest, are evidently introduced fish and are referred to the 
aljove species. Tiie following color notes are furnished by Dr. Jenkins: 

Specimen B: Length, 12.25 inches. Body dark, olivaceous dusky; belly dirty 
white, with a show of yellow in places; sides dull coppery red, no distinct band; 
lower part of side yellowish; opercle and preopercle dull coppery red; few spots on 
the anterior part of body, these few being confined to top of head, a very few in 
front of dorsal; spots on caudal peduncle and in the space l)etween the adipQse and 
dorsal fins; dorsal with -t or 5 rows of spots with a black outer margin, no white tips; 
caudal with about 5 transverse r^ws of black spots; pectorals, ventrals, and anal 
dusky; anterior tips of ventrals white; conspicuous coppery orange band on each 
side of throat (cut- throat mark). 

Specimen C: In comparison with aljove, general color lighter, the reddish color 
of sides indistinct and narrow; sides of head indistinct reddish; bands on throat con- 
spicuous orange; spots on body nmch more numerous, extending from dorsal to tip 
of snout; a few on the sides; tins like the preceding. 

Specimen D: Lighter than C, otherwise similar, except that reddish color on sides 
of head is more noticeable; marks present on throat, but not so conspicuous as in C 

Specimen K: Similar to D. marking on throat c()nsj)icuous. 

INTRODUCTION OF TROUT INTO STREAMS OF THE SOUTHERN HIGH SIERRAS. 

During the last twenty -five or thirty years connuendable interest and activit}' 
have been shown by the citizens of Tulare Count}' in conserving the supply of food 
and game fishes of their portion of the state. This activity has manifested itself in 
securing consignments of trout and other species from the state and federal govern- 
ments and in transplanting native trout to barren waters. This excellent work has 
been brought about through various agencies. In the first place, a rancher, observing 
that certain streams, apparently well suited to trout, were wholly without fishes of any 
kind, would undertake to stock the barren stream by ti'ansplanting trout from some 
near-by waters. The eiiuipment for the work, though usually ([uite primitive — prob- 
ably consisting merely of a tin can, a coffeepot, or bucket — was often adequate, and 



THE GDLDEN TROI^T. 33 

tlie tiiiiisplitiiting WHS successfully uccoiiiplished. Mr. John Broder, of Rcd.stonc Park, 
has been very active in stocking barren waters of this region, and he informs me that 
to his knowledge the following streams have l)een stocked with trout in recent years: 
East Fork of Kaweah throughout its entire length and including several of the 
small tributaries at its headwaters; Cliff Creek, tributary to Middle Fork of Kaweah, 
just north of Mineral King; Wolverton Creek, tributary to Marble Fork of Kaweah 
at noilh edge of the (Jiant Forest; Big Arroyo, tributary to Kern lliver, stocked by 
Edward Hurlburt from the Little Kern; Rattlesnake Crei'k, tritnitai'v to Kern River, 
stocked by Mr. Broder from the Little Kern, the result not known; Shotgun Creek, 
one of the headwaters of the Little Kern; Nine Mile Creek, an eastern tributary of 
Kern River which it joins below Kern Lake, was stocked from Kern River in 1897 
by Mr. Broder near the Hot Springs; South Fork of Kaweah at South Fork 
Meadows south of Sand Meadow with trout from Soda Creek at Quinns Horse Camp. 
The history of the introduction of trout into Cottonwood (]reek and the subse- 
quent description of the species is interesting and should be made a matter of record. 
Cottonwood Creek was originally without trout of any kind. Desiring to learn the 
facts concerning the introduction of the fish into this stream I interviewed or wrote to 
a number of gentlemen who were supposed to possess information bearing upon the 
tuansai'tion. In response to my letters several replies were received. Judge A. C. 
Harvey, of Lone Pine, Inyo County, Cal., gave a full account of the transplanting. 
He says: 

The golden trout were caught in South Fork of Kern River in a little stream in Mulky Meadow, 
just where the Hockett trail enters the meadow. They were caught with liook and line by S. V. 
Stevens, A. C. Stevens, and Thomas George. Thirteen fish were (taught antl carried in a coffee pot 
over the Hockett trail and put in Cottonwood Creek about a ndle above the Stevens sawmill, at a place 
known as the "Tom Williams bridge." One died in transit. This was, I think, in July, 1870. The 
distance from the place in Mulky Meadow where the tish were obtained to the Tom Williams bridge 
is about 'Ai to 4 miles. There was no possible way for fish from Volcano Creek to get into the waters 
of Mulky Meadow at that time. I have heard lately that fish from Volcano Creek had lieen put in 
Cottonwood Creek many years before by a man liy the name of Nelson; if so, they did not live, for I 
have fished in these mountain streams since 1870. In 1879 Mr. Stevens and I took a nice string of fish 
from Cottonwood Creek, wliich showed that they did well; they would average about 8 inches long. 
I am positive no fish were ever put in from Kings Kiver, as has been claimed by some. In 1890 (1891) 
Mr. E. H. Edwards, JI. Hand, J. K. Moffet, and a man named Cook turned a little stream of the Cot- 
tonwood Creek and caught perhaps 100 fish and took them about 24 miles u|) to Cottonwood Lakes. 
When they arrived at the lakes quite a number of the fish were dead. Perhaps -50 lived and apparently 
liave done well. They grow very large in the lakes; some have been taken that weigh over .5 pounds. 
They are beauties and very fat, but our fish law does not <iuite fit the recinirements of thegol<len trout. 
.V great many fish are taken on the riffles Ijetween the lakes in May and .lune, at the height of the 
spawning season, which should not be done. The altitude of the lakes is about 10,000 feet, which 
makes their season short. They are very prolific. I have taken them in the latter part of August 
with sjiawn. 

Mr. (icorge W. Stewart, president of the Tulare County Fish and Game League, 
gives the following information under date of October 28, 190-i; 

I have been informed and have for several years been under the impression that Mr. E. H. 
Edwards, of Lone Pine, Inyo County, Cal., had planted golden trout in Cottonwood Creek. I recently 
wrote him for full information concerning the matter — the date and places where planted and the 
stream from which the fish [ilanted were procured. I am in receipt of the following from Mr. Edwards: 
"Cottonwood Creek was stocked by Colonel Stevens, Thomas George, and A. C. Stevens in 1876 with 

B. B. F. 190.5—3 



84 BTLLKTTN OK THK lU'RKAIT oF KISHKRIES. 

lisli lirnii^rhl from Miilkv Creek, a braiieli of the S(.utli Fc.rkuf KeriiKiver, wliiih run.« tlinmyh Mulky 
Meadows. The two lakes ahove the falls at the North Fork of ('ottonwnod ('reek were stocked four- 
teen years ago (in 1891) by M. 1'. IIan<i, E. II. Edwards, Manuel Silva, James Moffett, and auieniber 
of a government scientitie expedition " that was here at tliat time. These fish were taken from a small 
tributary of Cottonwood Creek below the falls." 

These two accounts agree perfectly in all essentiiil respects, and it may therefore 
be rcjyarded as estal)li.shed that Cottonwood Creek was stocked in ISTti hy Mes.srs. 
A. C. Stevens, S. V. Stevens, and Thomas (reoroe with trout ( Siilnni iiyiKi-hon ifa) from 
Alidky Creek, a small triliutary of the South Fork of the Kern; that the Cottonwood 
lakes were stocked in isyi by Messrs. M. 1'. Hand, E. II. Kd wards, Maiuiel Silva, 
James Moffett, and B. H. Dutcher with trout from Cottonwood Creek; and that no 
other plants have been made in that creek or its branches. 

Nelson Creek, a small tributary of Middle Fork of Tule River, was stocked in 
1897 or 1898 by Mr. J. M. Nel.son, of Daunt, Tulare County, with trout from Vol- 
cano Creek. Mr. Nelson stsirted with 22 fish, 4 of which died on the way. The 
remaining 18 were successfully planted in Nelson Creek, and trout are said to })e 
abiuidant in that stream now. 

Unfortunately the data regardino- man}' of these fish-cultural operations are not 
wholly complete. In a luuiiber of cases the date when the plant was made, the 
names of the parties making it, the e.xact place where the fish were planted, and, most 
unfortunately, the name of the stream from which the stock was obtained liave not 
been recorded. It is particularly regrettalilc that tiie names of the streams from 
which the trout were obtained and of those in which they were ])]ace(l were not made 
a matter of carefid recoi'd. 

Later, rod and gun clul)s were organized in vaiit)us towns and \ iilages, and these 
were and are instrumental in securing consignments of fish From the state and 
federal fish commissions. 

Mr. Stewart and Mr. Broder have furnislied very full aci-oiuits of the planting 
and transplanting that has been done in the region drained by the Kings, Kaweah, 
and Kern rivers. According to Mr. Stewart: 

Before the work of planting was begun by the people of Tulare Comity there was not a trout 
between Kings River and the South Fork of the Kaweah River, in the upper altitudes of the Sierra, 
and probably the same was true of the upper waters of Tule River, Deer Creek, and White River. 
These streams are all on the western slope of the range. The first planting of fish of any kind done 
in Tulare County was about twenty-five years ago, when a planting of whitefish and Eastern catfish, 
secured from the V . S. Fish Commission, was made in the waters of Tulare Lake, then a shallow body 
of water 30 miles long and 18 or 20 wide. The waters being somewhat alkaline the whitefish soon 
die<l, but the catfish thrived and soon populated all the streams then emptying into the lake. This 
lake, from which large quantities of fish, mainly perch, were formerly sujjplied to the San Francisco 
market, has almost ceased to exist on account of the diversion of the water from the streams once 
feeding it for the purposes of irrigation, and ijometimes in the latter part of summer disappears entirely. 

Perch are still to be found in lower Kings River and adjacent sloughs. The large cyprinoid, 
Mi/lojihanidim conocephnlus, locally called "lake fish" or "lake trout," which formerly ascended the 
streams into the foothills during high water, are still found in small numbers in the deei> pools of the 
Kaweah and Tule rivers. At that time ( twenty-five years ago) car]) were introduced into this country. 
Tliey were kept in ponds at first, but escaped from time to time into the streams, and are now very 



nU. S. Biological Survey. Mr. Basil Hicks Dutcher (now Dr. Dutcher, U. S. Army) was in charge of the government 
party, and i.s doubtless the man referred to. 



THK (KH.DEN TJJdtlT. 



35 



nnmenms. They liiivc never lieen a iMipuUir tish liere. When canfjiht they are usually thmwii out cm 
the liaiik and not carried home, anil are seldom eaten by any hut Japanese and Indians. 

The tirst planting done in the mountains was by a few persons carrying rainbow trout from the 
Big and Little Kern and their tributaries in cans to the streams and lakes on the western slope of the 
mountains. Later, clubs were organized and a.ssisteil in the work, and in recent years the State fish 
commissioners have sujiplied many thousand of small fish for planting in the barren or not well- 
stocked streams. Among these clubs have been the Visalia Sportsman's t'lub, the Visalia (jame Club, 
the Esliom Valley Fish and Rifle Club, a clul) at I'orterville, and latterly the Tulare County Fish and 
(ianie League, and the Fish and (iame Protective Association, of which there are branches at Visalia, 
!'(vrterville, Threerivers, and near Kings River. 

The first planting in the mountains of which we have any record was done by Mark Lavelle and 
Nick Wren in Mineral King Creek, the trout being brought from the Little Kern in caiis on pack ani- 
mals. Wiley Watson, Arthur Crowley, and W. A. Ward w-ere also among the first to carry rainbow 
trout from "over the djviile" to the Mineral King region. They were planted in Mineral King Creek, 
Redwood Canyon Creek, and in Eagle, Monarch, Crystal, and Lady Franklin lakes. Cajitains Parker 
and Liickett and Lieutenant Dean of the Fourth U. S. Cavalry, and other officers detailed by the acting 
superintendent of the Secjuoia and (ieneral (irant national parks, during several years lent valualile 
assistance in the work of stocking the mountain streams, detailing men and pack trains for the purpose. 

No plantings have been more successful than those of grown rainbow^ trout taken from the Sierra 
streams. They are jirolitic and several <if the smaller streams have been stocked by rainbows onlv, 
placed there a few at a time, and they are good strikers at the fly. 

There are still a numlier of streams entirely barren. Among these are Wolverton Creek in the 
Sequoia National Park, Whitney Creek (formerly called Crabtree Creek), running from the base of 
Mount Whitney to Kern River, and Le ('onte Creek, having its source near the base of Mount Le 
Conte and emptying into the Kern. These are all large and ideal trout streams, and should be stocked 
at once. Other streams barren or imperfectly stocked, are Sherman Creek, East Branch of North 
Fork of the Kaweah near Redwood Meadow, Horse Creek near Hockett Meadow, :Mill Flat Creek, 
Sampson Creek (a triliutary of the last named). Ten Mile Creek, in the same region, and others 
unnamed. Several lakes northeast of the Mount Whitney trail near Sheep Mountain, three lakes at the 
head of Sugar Loaf Creek in township 14 south, range 30 east (Mount Dialilo base and meridian) and 
a great number of lakes about the headwaters of many of the smaller branches of the Kaweah and 
Kings rivers, should be stockerl. 

In the followinj;- tabular statement there are brought together all the records 
of plantings in this region of wliieh I have been able to secure definite information. 
For t'^ese record.s 1 am indebted almost wholly to Mr. Stewart and to Mr. Broder. 
Doubt1e.s,s a numlier of plantings have been made of which we have no complete 
account, and many persons have been helpful in the work whose names have not 
been recorded. There are included, on the authority of Mr. H. S. Blood, of Angels, 
a number of transplantings made in the Sierras west of Lake Tahoe and elsewhere 
north of the region with which this report more particularlv deals. 

Table xhoirimi li-diiKjiliiiilliKjx (if tmul and ullicr fishe-t in waters of the High Hierraa of soathcni. ('(ilifornia. 



Water-^i stocked. 



Bi^ Arro.vo. tributary ' (Snlmo whitci) 

to Kern River. 
Hin Meadow Creek ISWiuiil since. Kiiinliow IroiU. 



Blue Lake.s. near heart 18(i4 ' Tali. 

ol'MokelumneRiver. I 
Blue Lakes 1,S7:) ■ 

Boulder Creek ]H97aui 



Rainbow trout. 



Transplanting done 
by- 



Edward Hurlburt 

F. A. Bullard, S. L. N. 

EUi.s, and his sons, 

Leonard. Marshall. 

and Marvin. 
O. S. Boardman, of 

(iault. 
Joseph Emery 

F. A. Bullard, S, L. N. 
Ellis, and Leonard, 
Marshall, and Mar- 
vin Ellis. I 



38 



HULLKTIN OK THE HUKEAU OF EISHERIKS. 



Tahlc abijirini/ Inin-iip/aidinris of truul ami oilur /i.ih(K in writcrx iij llu- Ilirjii Sicrrax of 

fortiia — Continued. 



Waters stocked. 



Bravo Lake n 

Clover Creek, .'Sequoia 
National Park. 



Colony Mill (via Hal- 
steail Meadows) and 
(■lover Creek, all 
streams between. 

Cottonwood Creek 



Cottonwood Lakes .. 



Cross Creek a , 
Crystal Lake . 



Deep Creek a 

Deer Creek above Hot 

Springs. 
Eagle Lake 



Elbow Creekn 

Elk Bayou" 

Eshom" Creek, below 

site of Hvde's old 

mill. 
Eshom Creek, near 

Hart's mill. 
Evelyn or Calhonn 

Lake. 
Feather River 



Highland Creek. 



Kiver. 

Hockett Meadows, 
streams in. Sequoia 
National Park. 

Horse Creek, north of 
Hockett Meadows. 

Indian Ditch at Wads- 
worth, Nev. 

Independence Lake... 



Kaweah River" . 



Above the power 

house. 
Near iron bridge, 

IH miles east of 

Visalia. 
-\t points 25 miles 

from Visalia and 

above. 
.\t the iron bridge. 

Marble Fork, of 
which Clover 
Creek is a tribu- 
tarv. 

Marble Fork 



.lune 1,1895 



Partof 2,000 fish.. 
Young cut-throat 
trout. 



California flsh com- 
mis.sioii, th rough 
Visalia Fish and 
Game Club. 



(Salmo agua- 
bonita.) 



Part of 2,000 flsh . 
20.000 eastern 

brook trout. 
Rainbow trout... 



Part of 2,000 lish 



18 rainbow trout" 



October, l.siir. .1 97 rainbow trout 

190J ! .\bout 60 trout . . 

Tahoetroul 



Small tributary of 
Cottonwood Creek 
below the falls. 



'Over the divide" . 



Hatchery in Siskiyou 

County. 
"Over the divide " . . . 



Marble Fork of Ka- 
weah. 
Hockett Meadows... 



About 18ti4. 



.do. 



"Rainbow trout" 
(doubtless .Sal- 
mo whiiei). 

About 150 trout . 



Hockett Meadows. 



Sequoia Park oflicials. Successful . 
as.sisted by S. L. N. 
Ellis. 



.1. T. Walker, .1. O. 
Thomas, Phil Davis, 
and Lieut. Ruther- 
ford. 

A. C. Stevens, Thos. 
George, and Colonel 
Stevens. 

E. H. Edwards. M. P. 
Hand, Manuel Sil- 
va. James Moffett, 
and B. H. Butcher. 



Wiley Watson, Arthur | Successful. 
Crowley, and W.A. 
Ward. 



Wiley Watson, Arthur 
Crowley, and W. A. 
Ward. 1 



Ellii 
R. L. Hill, F. J. Hill, 

and S. L. N. Ellis. 
Jason Barton and 

J. W. Fewel. 
Mr. Pratt, founder of 

Praltsville, PUimas 



Co 



ily. 



Blood. Mark 
McCormick, and 
Herman Tvrie. 
H.S. Blood, of Angels, 
and J. C. Curtis, of 
Murphys. 



Sept. 18, 1893 . 

May 21,1894-. 
Summer, 1902 
Oct., 1902 .... 



1903. 



July 24,1904 ., 



Sacramento perchi State Fish Commis- 

I sion. 
Part of a consign- 

raent of 20,000 [ 

trout. 
Part of 2,000 fish, 1 

kind notgiven. I 
"20,000 young trout i 



Jason Barton b and 

J. W. Fewel. 
Specimens obtained 

by Dr. Jordan. 
J. S. Johnson and 

J. T. Walker. 



100 black bass State hatchery 



20.000 young tronti 

(variety not I 

given). ; 

IIX) black bass, 3 ' Si.sson hatcher 

to 6 inches long. 

1S93 ' 4,000 trout 



Sept. 18,1893 ..; Part of con.sign- 
ment of 20,000 
trout. 



J. T. Walker and Geo. 
Reinheimer. 

J. T. Walker, .1. O. 
Thomas.Phil. Davis, 
and Lieut. Ruther- 
ford. 

M. L. Weaver. J. T. 
Walker, and de- 
tachment of sol- 
diers of Fourth U.S. 
Cavalry. 

M. L. Weaver, P. M. 
Norboe, and sol- 
diers of the Fourth 
Cavalry. 

o All these plantings were made in the level San Joaquin Valley at altitudes of 300 to 400 feet. 

ft Mr. Barton states that he has seen no fish below the places where the plantings were made, but that fish are plentiful 
above. He is of the opinion that trout move up the streams until stopped by barriers, and that they do not move down 
the streams below the place where they were planted. 



J.T. WalkerandJack 
Bahwell. 

J.T. Walker and a rep- 
resentative of State 
Fish f^ommission. 

M. L. Weaver 



Very successful. 



'Had no fish in 
1891. Planted 
fish in 1893; 
now plenty." 
Stewart. 



THE GOLDEN TROUT. 



37 



Table showing Inuusplaulinys of trout and oilier fishes in waters of the High Sierras of southern Cali- 
fornia — Continued. 



1 

Waters stocked. , Date. 


Species. 


Waters from which 
obtained. 


Transplanting done 
by- 


Results. 




1892 


Fart of l.i.OOO trout 
fry. 

1.1,000 yming trout 

Part of 20,000 

eastern brook 

trout. 
Part of 50,000 

trout, (species 

not given). 
12,500 eastern 

brook trout. 
10,000 cut-throat 

trout. 

Part of 80,000 
young c u t- 
throat trout. 

21 golden trout . . . 


State hatchery 


J. 0. Thomas, P. \V. 

Davis, and M. L. 

Weaver. 
M.L.WeaverandJ.T. 

Walker. 
J. 0. Thomas, J. T. 

Walker, and W.O. 

dough. 
J.T.WalkerandJ.O. 

Thomas. 

J. T. Walker 




Fork. 

Middle Fork, Shep- 

ard'.>< Crossing. 
Middle Fork 

Do 


Sept. 3, 1893 ... 
Mar. 2. 1894.... 

19U2 

Nov. 16, 1904.. 
Aug. 2,1894... 

18% 

Sept., 1896.... 




State hatchery 

Wawoua, furnished 
by the State Fish 
Commissioners. 

Volcano (formerly 
Whitney) Creek. 




power house. 
North Fork 

North Fork near 
Old Baldv and 
Eshom Valle.v. 

North Fork near 
north line of Se- 
quoia National 
Park. 


J. S. Johnson, J. T. 
Walker, and mem- 
bers of Eshom Val- 
ley Fish and Rifle 
Club. 

Eshom Vallev Fish 
and Rifle Club. 

F.J. Hill, S. L, N. El- 
lis, and Leonard El- 
lis. 


"Notprolific.but 
grow to a large 
size." 

"Lost track of, 
but fish resem- 
bling hybrids 
taken .several 
miles below 
the plant." 


North Fork 

Do 


1897 and since. 


Rainbow trout... 

Part of .50,000 
trout (sp.'.'i 

Part of 5,000 cut- 
throat trout. 




F. A. Bullard, S. L. N. 
Ellis, and Leonard, 
Marshall, and Mar- 
vin Ellis. 

J T Walker and J 


Do 


Aug. 21, 1904.. 




Thomas. 
M. L. Weaver, P. M. 
Norboe, and soldiers 
of the Fourth Cav- 










North Fork. Un- 


1897 and since. 






F.A.Bullard.S. L. N. 
Ellis, and Leonard, 
Marshall, and Mar- 
vin Ellis. 

.1. 0. Thomas, P. W. 

Davis, and .M. L. 

Weaver. 
P. W. Davis and M. L. 

Weaver. 
J. 0. Thomas. J. T. 

Walker, and W. 0. 

Clough. 
J.T.WalkerandJ.O. 

Thomas. 

Jason Barton and 
Chas. Blos.som. 

Jason Barton and J. 
W. Pewel. 

J. T.Walker'. 




named tributa- 
ries. 


(Salmo white!)... 

Partotl.i.OOOtrout 
fry. 

Part of 15,000 
small fry. 

Partof 20,000 east- 
ern brook trout. 


SodaCreekatQuinn's 
Horse Camp. 

State hatchery 

....do 




South Fork 
Meadows. 






Do 






Do 


Mar. 2,1S94 ... 










Partof .iO,000 trout 






above and below 
falls. 


1903. 


Hockett Meadows 

do . 




tributary near 
Sand Meadow. 


1904 




1904. 


hea d wa t ers, 
about 5 miles 
above the falls. 
South Fork 


Nov. 16, 1904... 
"Recently"... 


12,600 eastern 
brook trout. 


State hiilcbcry 






F.A. Bullard S.L.N. 

Ellis, and his sons 

Leonard, Marshall, 

and Marvin. 
Wiley Watson, Arthur 

Crowlev, and W. A. 

Ward. " 
.Mark Lavelle and 

Nick Wren. 
WileyWat.son. Arthur 

Crowley, and W. A. 

Ward. 
M. L. Weaver and 

Charles U. Wilcox. 

AbramRitehie.ofBig 
Trees, John Christy, 
of Jenny Lind. 


Not yet known. 


vicinit.v of. 
Ladv Franklin Lake .. 


do 


"Over thedivide" 

Little Kern 

"Over thedivide"... 




Mineral King Creek... 
Do 


About 1880.... 


Trout (Salmo 

whileii. 
" Rainbow trotit" 

15,000 cut-throat 
trout. 

Tab oe trout 






Aug. 2, 1894... 




and other streams in 
lliat iieiKliborhood 
along the road. 


Hoiie Vallev 




headwaters. 









38 



BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Table showiiiAj trtinsplaulim/ii of trmU and other fishen in waters of the IlUih Sierras of southern Cali- 
fornia — Continued. 



Waters stocked. 



Nelson Creek, a small 
tributary of Tule 
River. 

Nine Blile Creek (also 
known as Hot 
Springs Creek). 

Nine Mile Creek, an 
eastern tributary of 
Kern River below 
Kern Lake. 

Oriole Lake, west of 
Mineral King and 
the head of a branch 
of the Middle Fork 
of the Kaweah. 

Oriole Lake 



Poso Creek, Kern 

County. 
Rattlesnake Creek. 

tributary to Kern 

River. 
Redwood Canyon 



'Rainbow trout" 



"Over the divide" 



Volcano <;reek , 
Kern River 



Transplanting done 
by- 

' Wiley Watson, Arthur ' Successful. 
Crowlev, and W. A. ' 
Ward. ■ 
.1. M. Nel.son "S>icces.sful.' 



ISSO ' Black hi 



1880 1 Trout . 



('lay Arnold No report 



Roaring River, Tulare 
County. 

Sand Meadow, 2 small 
lakes west of. j 

Shell Mountain, lake 
on, altitude 9,000 feet. 

Silliman Creek (Se- 
iluoiaNational Park). 



1S96. 
1895. 



19U4 

May 28, 189.").. 



Stanislaus River, Mid- 
dle Fork. 

.Staui.slausRiver, North 
Fork, in reservoir of 
the Union Water Co, 

Stony Creek 

.Sugarloaf Creek, Tu- 
lare County. 

Ten Mile Creek 



'en Mile Creek belo 

Millwood Trail, 
'ruekee River 



Tulare Lake . 



Tule River 

At three points 

((Jlobe Crossing, 

.M iir k s b u r v s . 

Mc Far lands 

Bridge). 
Middle Fork. 

above club house. 
South Fork of 

While River (or small 

tributary). 
Whitman Creek: 

Hockelt Meadows . 

A branch of Horse 
Creek. 
Wofidard Creek 



188.5 or 1890.. 
1904 



Part of 10,000 , State hatclicry 
■trout. I 

Little Kern.... 



'Rainbow trout' 



About HO trout . 
Iti black bass... 



Wawona, furnished 
by State Fi.sh Com- 
missioners. 



Hockett meadows 



California F'sh Com- 
mission, through 
Visalia Fish and 
Game Club. 

Walker River, Ne- 
vada. 

Hope Valley, on east 
slope of Sierras. 



7 small rainbow 

trout. 
'lA rainbow trout . 

Sacramento 

perch. 
Rainbow trout . . . 
Whitefish and 

catfish. 

10,000 trout fry... 

150 black bass 3 to 

ti inches long. 



l.'i.OOO eastern 
brook trout. 

10,000 eastern 
brook trout. 

Part of 10,000 
trout fry. 

Rainbow trout 

{Salmo wkUei) . 
About 7.T trout . . . 



State hatcherv 



State hatchery 



J.T. Walker . 
.Tohn Broder. 



Wiley Watson. Arthur 
Crowlev, and W. \. 
Ward. 

Eshom Valley Fish 
and Rifle Club. 

Andy Ferguson (ex- 

gamewarden of 

Fresno Co., Cal.)" 
Jason Barton and 

J. W. Fewel. 
M. L. Weaver, W, H. 

Elam, and S. L. N. 

Ellis. 
Sequoia Park officials 

assisted by S. L. N. 

Ellis. 



Trout have bc< 
caught the 
since. 



Not kii..wn 
Su sslul. 



"Nolprolitlc.but 
grow to a large 
size." 

Succes,sful. 



Soda Creek 

Hockett Meado 



S. L. N. Ellis ! Successful. 

.\ndy Ferguson ' Failure. 

A.I.Weston I 

S.L.N. Ellis 

State fish commission . 

.do. 



U.S. Fish Commi! 



M. L. Weaver 

F. W.Velieand H.M. 
Hathaway. 



.Jason Barton and 

,1. W. Fewel. 

S. L.N.Ellis 

E. S. Phillips and 

,S. L.N.Ellis. 



"Mr. Ferguson made i 



' than lijo plantings of trout in the streams and lakes of Fresno County. 



THE OOTiBEN TROUT. 39 

TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS IN THE KERN RIVER REGION. 

l!y (I. V. .1 i:\KiNs. 

The trihutario.s of the upper portion of the upper Keni Ki\-er tiiul their sources 
amid ridges and peaks of a higjh altitude wiiicii through a great part of the _year 
are covered witli snow. The melting of the snow furnishes tiie streams with their 
water supply. Even during the summer the supply of snow is not entirely exhausted, 
and where such is the case the springs whose reservoirs were filled from the melting- 
snow furnish the streams with a constant supply of cold water, the temperature of 
which the short period of warmth through the middle of the day does not markedly 
artect. Even in midsummer at these altitudes the nights are cold, the temperature 
often falling several degrees below the freezing point of water. During the day the 
sky is more freijuently overcast than is the case in most parts of C'alifornia, and in 
the highest altitudes light falls of snow are not uncommon. Although these latter 
usually quickly disajjpear they add their contribution of cold water to the streams. 
These conditions insure a comparatively low temperature for the waters of the 
tributaries of the upper Kern for the whole year. 

The tributaries of the Kern, however, all make great and rapid descent to the 
Kern River. This river also continues to drop rapidly through mountain and foot- 
hill regions until it reaches the plains. Through a comparatively short distance 
waters from melting snows on tiie summit of Mount Whitney pass by Whitney 
Creek and the Kern River, in summer from the temperature of melting snow to the 
plains below where the temperature reaches a point exceeded by few places in the 
United States. In these lower regions the waters of the river are not reinforced by 
rains or springs and sire unprotected by shade of vegetation. Indeed in this region 
in summer the waters of the Kern are finally lost b}^ absorption and by evaporation 
after breaking up into numerous winding streams. In recent times the distribution 
of these waters is nuich modified by the great irrigation .systems that are developing 
along the Kern. The natural features thus noted bring about conditions of tempera- 
ture which make the upper Kern with its tributaries lying in the mountains ideal for 
trout, while during a great part of the year they render the lower portions of the 
river lying among the lower foothills and in the plains impossible for this fish. 

The land animals and plants along the l)aiiks of these streams have l)een studied 
by the members of the Biological Survey. The changes in fauna and flora from the 
summit of Mount Whitney to the plains about Hakersfield include the extremes to 
b(> found in the Ignited States. In its descent from Mount Whitney the water passes 
successively the zones that have been designated Boreal, Transition, Upper Sonoran, 
and Lower Sonoran ))y the Biological Survey. No like study of the water forms of 
animal and plant life of the streams of this region has ))een made, but from the nature 
of the conditions no such well-marked zones could be looked for among the aquatic 
forms as have been found for the terrestrial species. Nevertheless, a careful study 
throughout could not fail to bring out interesting facts of the distribution of the 
forms belonging to the streams. As it is, we do not at the present know accurately 
the lower lange of the trout, the farthest upper range of the fishes peculiar to the 
lower portions of the stream, nor the range of any of the other animals that live with 
them. 



40 



BULLETIN OF THE BTtAEAU OF FISHERIES. 



In the following' tal)le are given the temperatures of the Kern River in and about 
Kern Lake, which is but a widened portion of the river caused by a partial <-hoking 
of the stream in the recent past. The temperatures were taken in the latter part of 
July. As can l)e seen, they range from 5:^.5 to 61"^ F. Naturally the morning 
temperatures are lower than those of the later parts of the da3', as also are those of 
the lower depths of the water. The records of the maximum and minimum tempera- 
tures at our camp near the shore line of tiie lake show that tiie air temperature during 
tlie night was even a little lower than the lowest temperature of the water, while 
during the day it rose far above it, l)eing, indeed, a high sumnu>r heat. 

Table 1. — \]'<iler teiii jural iiren nt Xini I.aki . 



Date. 


Hour. 


Temper- 
ature. 


Locality. 

1 






° F. 






.Iulvl9 


Ua.m 


56.75 


Camp No.o (surface of lake). 




.Iiily.'O 


8.30 u. in 




Lower end of lake: ilepth, 12 feet. 
At surface. 






59. 75 






67.0 


At a depth of 2.5 feet. 








Sti.25 


At a depth of 5 feet. 








54.75 


At a depth of 10 feet. 




I).. .... 






In water just iiortheMst of iiullel; depth. 
At the surface. 


2 feet. 




57.75 






50.0 


Atadcptli i.f 2.:. feel. 








55.0 


Atad-|iili ..1 :i fr.'t. 








54. 75 


At il .Irplli Ml 11 I.., 4. 




Do .... 


3.30 p. m . . . . 


61.0 


llllCt KrIM l.nl.M 




.Tlllvl9 


6p.m 


59.0 


Kern l:i\.-i, 1 .. miles below hike. 




July 21 


4.30 p. m.... 


(iO.O 


Just above Kern Luke. 




• Do .... 


9.30 a.m.... 


54.26 


About 1.5 miles above Kern Lake. 




July 22 


9am 


52. 5 


Small creek at Camp No. 5, Kern Lake. 





The temperature of the air at Kern Lake camj) was as follows: -July 19, minimum, 
50.25'-', maximum, 88'-'; Jul}' 20, minimum, 51.75 , mti.xiniuni. Stj.5 ; July 21, mini- 
mum, 53.5 , maximum, 81.5'-'. 

About 2 miles above Kern Lake, nearlj- opposite to one another, there emptj' 
into the river two tributaries. The smaller one on the west is Coyote Creek, on the 
east is Volcano Creek. Coyote Creek rises mainly in the (Jovote meadow, from 
which region it passes l)y a rapid descent to the Kern. In table ii the temperatures 
noted show the low degree of 43.5' taken at the largest spring at its source. From 
this the temperature rises as the stream descends to about the temperature of the 
Kern netir the mouth of the ci'eek. The constant addition of cold water from small 
tril)utaries and springs prevents a greater rise of temperature. 

Table II. — Coyote Creek temperatures. 



Date. 


Hour. 


Temper- 
ature. 


Locality. 


July 18 

Do.. . 


^-.^.d^o"-::: 


°F. 
57.0 
57.0 
62.75 
58.0 
64.0 
66.0 
43.6 


Coyote Meadow. 

Lower end of Coyote Meadow. 

About IJ miles below Coyote Mmdow . 

3 miles below Coyote Meadow. 

Lower temperature due to entrnnce of snrali Iriiaitaries. 

Just above mouth. 

At source. 


Do 

Do 

Do 

July21 

July 30 


2p.m 

3 p. m 

do 

11.45 a.m... 
■'Pra 



In table iii are given the temperatures of Volcano Cre(>k taken from points 
extending from one-half mile a1)ove the mouth of the creek to the portion which lies 



THE OOLDEN TRvOtTT. 



41 



vcMV noar the South Fork. of the Kern at the old "tunnel."' This latter point i.s 
about half the distance from the mouth to the .source. No doubt above this point, 
toward its sources, lower tempci'atures would have been reached. • Although the 
stream lies in high altitudes, considerable stretches of it wind through meadows 
where the warmth of the sun has opportunity to raise its temperature. This, how- 
ever, is compensated 1)V the cold of the niohts and the fi'equent supply of cold water 
from springs. 

Table III. — ]'olr(i)i.o Vrevk trmpertitiires. 



Date. 


Hour. 


Temper- 
ature. 


Locality. 


July 22. ...1 11. .50 a.m... 

Do ' 4.30p.m.... 

Julv 23 .... 6.30 a.m.... 

Do 7 p.m 

July 24 ' 6.15 a.m 

Do 1 12.50 p.m... 

Julv 30 .... 7 a.m 


" F. 
.56. 25 
55.0 
51.0 
55.25 
.50.5 
54.24 
51.0 


One-half mile uliove uinutli. 
Camp No. 6. 

Do! 

Do. 
Xi the tunnel. 
"Grasshopper Meadow." 



At our camp near Twin Falls the maximum air temperature, .Inly 23, was 75. .3°, 
tlie minimum, July 24. 49. .5'-. 

The few observations made on the temperature of the South Fork of the Kern 
in the region of its approximation to Volcano Creek show its waters to l)e decidedly 
warmer than tho.se of Volcano Creek. 

Table W . — Soulli Furl; Krm Hirer tempenilnrrs. 



Hour. Tamper- 



60. 3 I At point where it comes close to Volcano Creek. 
6.5.0 At upper end of South Fork Meadows. 

62.5 i Small stream flowing into South Fork of Kern River, at upper 
end of South Fork Meadows. 



Rock Creek is a considerable stream, flowing into the Kern from the east, its 
middle branch or main stream rising- from Sheep Mountain, Cirtjue Peak, and Mount 
Le Conte. We have but a single record of temperature from it. This is at a point 
where the trail crosse.s it, and is about one-third the length of the stream above its 
mouth. The temperature here at 3.15 p. m., July 2^, was 54'-. This ob.servation 
would indicate that its water.s are about the temperature of those of Volcano C-reek. 

Siberian Outpost is on the upper portion of a branch, the most .southern of Rock 
Creek. It i.s near the base of Cirque Peak. A short distance from our camj) small 
patches of snow still were to be seen. Temperature of air at in p. m., July 24. 
52.5' : at 5.45 a. ,m., July 25. 44.25'=. 

The records of temperature of Whitnej' Creek were made at Crabtree Meadow 
or in its vicinity. This meadow i.s at a point about one-fourth of the whole length 
of the stream from its mouth. The record shows the temperature of Whitney 
Creek to be noticeablj' lower than that of Volcano Creek. This is due to its higher 
elevation, its sources in Mount Whitney being longer covered with snow, and the 
fact that even in summer when they are expo.sed they more frequently receive sup- 
plies from the ligiit snowstorms. 



42 



BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



T.^Bi.E \'. — Wliitney CreeA- temperatures. 



Date. 


H-- \^zr.'- 


Locality. 


July 25.... 
jHly2fi.... 

Do 

Do 

Do 

Do 

July 27 .... 

Do 

July 28.... 
July 29 .... 
July 25.... 
July 26.... 


Bp.m 

6a.m 

do 

7 p. m 

do 

6a. m 

do 

7.45 p.m.... 

6.30a. m.... 

6a. mi 

9 p. m 

4.30a. m.... 


° F. 
55,0 

4T. ?:. 
■ii;. II 

Tii II 
5-1,11 
4."). 
46.0 
.54.0 
48.0 
48.0 
55.0 
41.0 


C'rabtree Meadow . 

liii 
Nr,ir(ial,ln'.- .Memlnw. 
Cral.triT M,-,i.l.,w. 
N.arCnihtlie .MeMilow. 
Crabtree Mendow, 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 



On the .siuiimit of Mount Whitney during a ,stonn of sleet at 12.80 p. ni. July 
2(i the air wa.i* 29 ; at 9.30 a. m. .Tuly 28, when the sky was clear, it was 39.5 . 

The largest tributary of the Kern River is the Little Kern. This stream 
empties into the Kern far helow the region of our investigations. Its headwaters, 
liowever, were examined by us and temperatures noted at the points given in table 
VI. Its sources lie in deep canyons just west of the Great Western Divide and south 
of Farewell (lap. As seen by the table, these upper sources of the Little Kern in 
temperature corre.spond closely with the tributaries of the upi)er Kern (main stream) 
east of the Divide. 

Table VI. — Little Kern temperatures. 



Date. 

July 17 ... . 

Do 

Do 

Do 

July IS .... 

Do 


Hour. 


Temper- 
ature. 


Locality. 


12.30 p.m... 

6p.m 

6.30 p.m.... 

7l<ni 

6^.m 

7.30 a.m .... 


"F. 
57.0 
51.0 
55.0 
55.0 
46.0 
47.0 


Below Broder's cabin 2.5 miles. 
Camp No. 4, BroJer'.s cabin. 

Do. 
Do. 
Do. 



At Broder's cal)in on Little Kern tlie air was 51 at 9.15 p. m. .hiiy 17 and 53 
at 5.30 a. m. Jul}' 18. The temperature of the water in Soda Creek. 1 mile below 
Quinns Horse Camp, at 10 a. m. July 16, was 51^. 

In leaving Threerivers for the Mount Whitney region our trail lay along the 
South Fork of the Kaweah River from near its mouth to its highest .sources. This 
gave opportunity for taking temperatures along almost the whole course of this 
streaiH. The.se records, as given in table vii, show that in the middle of July the 
temperature ranges from the high point of 70°, near its mouth, to the low temper- 
ature of 13"^, taken at Camp No. 3, South Meadow, not far from the sources of the 
river, the temperature falling as the elevation increases. During the latter part of 
the summer the lower portions of the stream no doubt show a still higher degree. 



THE GOLDEN TROUT. 



i3 



Tahle \'II. — SV»(//, Furl; of Katmili IcmiteraUir 



Jiilv 13 . 



D p. ni 

6 p.m 

.Inly 14 ....I 5.45a.m... 

Do I 6 a. m 

Do 11 a. m 

Do I 12.1,Tp. m.. 

Do i 12.30 p.m.. 

Do I 3 p.m 

Do I 7p.m 

.Inly 1.5 (i a.m 

Do H.-W a. m . . 

Do 3.4Sp. m... 

Do 4.45 p. ni 

Jnlvie ....I 6a.m 

Do 7.30a.m... 

Do 4.45p.m 

Jnly 17 7.30a.m... 



70.5 
09. 5 
62. 25 



63.00 
C3. 5 
ri4.5 
60.5 



Camp 1, .flies' ranch. 



5 or 6 miles above .^]le.>*' ranch; clc\ 
Redwood cabin. 
About 8 miles above Camp 1. 
Small creek some distance above ia; 
Camp No. 2. near Sand Meadow. 

Do. 
I anil. N". 3. on branch Sonth Fork. 
( )iir iMtirih mile below Camp \o. :i. 
i'aiii|. .No. 3, South Forlc Meadows. 



nth Fork Meado 



The only records of the temperature of the air taken along this stream are those 
of Camp No. 3, South Fork Meadows, near the source of the stream. Abundant 
frost occurred at niojht followed ))V i)leasantl3' wanii day tempei'ature, the temper- 
ature of the air sinkino- considerably l)olo\v that of the water at iiioht and risint"- far 
above it in the daytime. 

Table VIIL— South Fori- of Kmceol, oir Iniipn-olureK. 



Date. 


Hour. 


Temper- 
ature. 


Locality. 


.Inly 14 

July 15 

Do 

.Tnlyie 

Do 

Do 

Jnly 17 

Do 

Do....: 


10 p.m 

5 a.m 

»p.m 

Minimum .. 
6.30 a.m.... 
Maximum.. 
Minimum.. 

6.45 p. m 

7.30 a.m 


43.5 
31.5 
39.0 
28.5 
32.5 
71.0 
n31.0 
32.5 
49.0 


Camp No 2. 

Do. 
Camp No. 3. 

Da 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 



Marble Fork is a branch of the Middle Fork of the Kaweali. It is a stream of 
considerable size. It flows north of the (iiant Foi-est, then turns to the south and, 
passing- through Deep Canyon, empties into the Middle Fork of the Kaweah. The 
records of temperature were taken near the bridge on the government road into the 
forest. This point is about 4 miles f i-om Hroder tt Hopping's camp. August 3, 7 
)). 111., ('>r> : August 4. s ,'1. in., 59°. 

THE FOOD OF THE TROUT OF THE KERN RIVER REGION. 



The trout investigations that were made in the vicinity of Mount Whitney, 
California, during July, 1904, included a brief study of the food of some of the trout 
found in the waters of that region. This study consisted of a careful examination 
of the stomach contents of 8.5 trout, these S.5 tish belonging to five difl'erent species 
which were obtained from si.x diH'erent stivams and one lake. They were caught 
\\ ith hook and line and were taken at diti'ercnt times of the day, chieHy early in the 



44 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

forenoon uiid toward evening. Tlui.s the contents of these stomachs ought to repre- 
sent fairly well the natural food of the trout at this season of the year. 

About 40 of the stomachs were examined at the time the trout were caught, 
while the remainder were preserved and their contents have been examined since 
the time of the expedition. Most of the specimens whose stomachs were exam- 
ined at the time of their capture were measured and a record of the length was made 
along with the record of contents of the stomach. In some cases also tlie sex of .thi> 
individual was noted. It was not found practicable to keep a record of the length 
and sex of all the specimens from which stomachs were taken and preserved, but the 
stomachs of specimens obtained from different localities were kept separate and a 
record made of the longest and shortest specimens from which thej- were taken. 

The relative quantitj- of food in each stomach was estimated — that is, whether 
the amount of food found was a (juarter, or a half, etc., of the quantity the stomach 
would hold with ordinary distension. The relative amount of the various food ele- 
ments was then estimated and recorded in percentages. The percentage method was 
used rather than the counting method because the contents of many stomachs con- 
sisted largely of fragments so small that it was impossible to place them in the proper 
group or groups of insects. However, the number of individuals making up the 
various percentages was also recorded in cases where it could readily be determined. 
Onl}' a very general classification of the stomach contents was attempted and the fol- 
lowing record will show how the various items were noted: Specimen No. 7, length 
7 inches; stomach about two-thirds full; contents — 1.5 per cent remains of 7 stone- 
fl}' nymphs, 95 per cent Chironomida; (761 chironomid larvte and 1 pupa), 2 per cent 
1 large fly, 0.5 per cent elytron of a small beetle, 1 per cent ants. The insect frag- 
ments that were too small to be identified accurately were recorded under the head 
of "insect fragments" and the Chironomida^ were noted separately from the other 
Diptera because, in general, the}' were found to be a more important food element 
than the other Diptera. The other groups are self-explanatory. The following is a 
summarized record of the results: 

Salmo whitei p^vermann. 

South Fork of the Kaweah River. — The stomachs of 12 specimens obtained 
from this stream at South Fork Meadows, on July 15, 1904, were studied. The 
specimens varied in length from 5.5 to 8 inches. All the stomachs except 1 were 
estimated to be half full or more. 

AracJinida. — Two per cent of the contents of 1 stomach consisted of spiders. 

Ephemerida. — Three stomachs contained May-fly nynij^hs. two 5 per cent, and 
the other 3 per cent. 

Plec<ypteixi. — Forty per cent of the contents of 1 stomach consisted of adult 
stone-flies, and 2 others contained 5 and 1.75 per cent stone-fly nymphs. 

Orthoptera. — The remains of a grasshopper (locust) constituted 25 per cent of 
the stomach contents of 1 specimen. 

Hemiptera. — One specimen had eaten 1 per cent Hemiptera. 

Tn'cho2>tera. — Four stomachs contained 90, 25, 15, and 5 per cent caddis-fly 
larvffi, and 8 contained 90, 20, and 1 per cent cases of caddis-fl}' larvic. 

Diptera.— 1hve& specimens had eaten 10, 6, and 2 per cent Diptei'a. 



THE GOLDEN TROUT. 45 

Chirioioiiiidn'.— Four stoiiiiichs contaiii(>d !)5, SO, 8, and 1 per cent chironoiuid 
larviv. 

<'()lc(ij)tcr<(. — The contents of 6 stomachs consisted of 75, t>(), ;iO, 15, 10, and 0.^5 
per ceiit beetles. 

Ihi))U))optcra. — Throe stomachs contained ants, two 25 per cent, and the other 1 
per cent. 

IiiKt'ci t'r<i(/>nriifs. — Small fragments of insects constituted from It per cent to .S5 
per cent of tiie entire stomach contents of 9 specimens. 

Vtyi'tahlc niuttcr. — Five stomachs contained -10, 30, 10, 7, and 0.5 per cent 
vegetable matter. In one or two instances part of this vegetable matter was prob- 
ably derived from the cases of caddis-fly larvse. 

The following percentages show the relative importance of the various elements 
of the stomach contents for all 12 specimens. These average percentages were 
obtained b}^ adding togethei' all the percentages of each element and dividing this 
sum by I'i. Arachnida 0.16, Ephemerida (Maj'-fly larvffi) 1, Plecoptera (adult stone- 
Hies and nymphs) :3.y, Hemiptera O.OS, trichopter larva; 11.23, cases of trichopter 
larva; 9.2, Diptera 1.5, chironomid larviv and pupa^ 15, Coleoptera 15, Hymenoptera 
(ants) 4.23, insect fragments 31. i, vegetable matter 7.3. This shows that trichopter 
larviv, chironomid larva- and pupse, and Coleoptera were the most important food 
elements, as these three together constituted a little over 41 per cent of the stomach 
contents of the 12 trout. 

Soda Crekk. — Six trout of the same species were obtained from this stream at 
Quinns Horse Camp on July 10, 190'!. They varied in length from 4.5 to 6.5 inches. 
Five of the stomachs were estimated to Ije from one-half to two-thirds full and the 
sixth about one-fourth full. 

Epheiiwrida. — One stomach contained 15 per cent May-tiy nymphs. 

Plecoptera. — One specimen had eaten 15 per cent adult stone-Hies and two had 
each eaten 20 per cent stone-Hy nymphs. 

Orthjptera. — One specimen contained 25 per cent remains of a grasshopper 
(locust). 

Trk'h(i])terit. — Three stomachs contained 60, 20, and 15 per cent caddis-fly larvie 
and another 90 per cent larva; and larval cases together. 

('lih'unoiiiklse. — The contents of one stomach consisted of 1 per cent chironomid 
lai'vse. 

Coleoptera. — Twenty per cent of the contents of one stomach and 5 per cent of 
another consisted of remains of beetles. 

Ifyiuenoptera. — One stomach contained 15 and another 10 per cent ants. 

IiiKeci fraymentK. — The contents of all six stomachs consisted of 10 per cent to 
99 per cent small fragments of insects. 

Veijetahle matter. — Two specimens had partaken of vegetable matter to the 
extent of 5 and 2 per cent. 

The following are the average percentages for these six specimens: Ephemeridu 
(May-fly tiymphs) 2.5, Plecoptera (adult stone-flies and nymphs) 9.22, Orthoptera 
4.16, trichopter larvw 30.82, chironomid larva- 0.16, Coleoptera 4.16, Hymenoptera 
(ants) 4.16, insect fragments 43.66, vegetable matter 1.16. Trichopter larva, with 



46 HULLKTIN OK THK KHRKAU OF FISHEKIES. 

ail avcruyc of ;'.(>. S2 per cent, formed tlll^ most iinportiiiit element of tlic food of 
these specimens, and adult stone-flies and nymphs were second in importance. 

LiTTi,E Kekn Rivkr. — The 41 trout (Sii/i/ii) irhlte!) obtained from this stream 
were caujjiit in the vicinity of a place called Hroder's cabin on July 17, 1904. 'I'iiev 
varied in lenjjth from 5 to S inches. The stomachs of 34 were estimated to )»' lialf 
full or more; the others were less than half full. 

Trout <'(/(/. — A trout eg-jr constituted 5 per cent of the contents of one stomach. 

fl 1/(1 raclni Ida. — Five stomachs contained hydrachnids; one contained I p(M' cent 
and the other four each 0.25 per cent. 

Kj>lii'iiirri(l(i. — May-fly nymphs constituted from 1 to n per cent of the contents 
of eitrht stomachs. 

Pleayptet'd. — Adult >tone-Hies constituted 15 per cent of the contents of two 
stomachs, stone-fly nymphs 10 and 5 pei- cent of two others, and pupa' 1 per cent of 
another. 

(h'thujdt'iit. — Two stomachs contained 5(» and 2 percent remains of j;rasshoppers 
(locusts), and fragments which apj)eared to l)e parts of a mantis composed 2 percent 
of the contents of another. 

Ilemi/iteru. — Thirteen stomachs contained from 1 per cent to Id i)er cent 
I[rliu2)tt'r<t. 

Triehopteni. — Six specimens liad eaten 0.5 per cent to 30 per cent caddis-fly larvse 
and six others contained 1 to 8 per cent cases of caddis-fly larva?. 

LeplJoptcra. — Moths constituted 15 per cent of the contents of two stomachs, 3 
and 2 per cent of two others, while 15 per cent of the contents of another consisted 
of a caterpillar. 

Diptera. — One stomach contained 15 per cent Diptera, one 5 per cent, three 2 
per cent, five 1 per cent, and two 0.5 per cent. 

Chlronoiiildce. — Chironomid larva' and pupa^ were found in 24 stomachs and 
constituted from 0.25 to 10 per cent of the contents. 

Colenptera. — Beetles were found in 38 stomachs. They made u]) from lo to 50 
per cent of the contents of 26 stomachs and 1 to 9 per cent of the contents of the 
other 12. 

Ilymenoptem. — Forty of these 41 trout had eaten insects belonging to this order. 
Thirty-nine had eaten from 2 to 35 per cent ants; six had eaten 2 to 10 per cent bees; 
and nine, 1 to 8 per cent other Hymen optera. 

Insect frag inentx. — Small fragments of insects constituted from 10 to 92 per cent 
of the contents of 40 stomachs. 

Vegetahle iiiatfer. — Sixteen stomachs were found to contain from 1 to 10 per 
cent vegetable matter. 

Sand. — The contents of 8 stomachs consisted of 1 to 8 per cent sand. It ajipcared 
that a large part of this sand had been derived from the larval and pupal cases of 
insects. 

The following are the average percentages for these 41 specimens: Ephemerida 
(May-fly nymphs) 0.7, Plecoptera (adult stone-flies and nymphs) 1.28, Orthoptera 1.4, 
HemipteraO.95. trichopter larvte 1.4, cases of trichopter larva' 0.7, Lepidoptera (moths) 
1.3, Diptera O.SS. chii'onomid larva? and pupa? 1.41, Coleoptera 15, Hymenoptera 15, 
insect fragments 57.11, vegetable matter 1.4, sand 1.3. The above percentages show 



THK GOLDEN TROUT. i? 

tliat Colooptcra and 1 1\ iiieii()i)t('rii were, tlie two chief coiistitiUMits of tiip stoiiiiU'li 
contents of these specimens. The 15 per I'ent of the hitter was made up of lii.8 per' 
cent ants and 2.2 per cent other Hynienoptera. Parasitic thread-worms (Nematoda) 
were found in (iS pei' cent of these trout.' Some stomachs contained as inan\' as Id 
of these parasites. 

CoYOTK Crkkk. — Only one trout from Coyote C'reek was studied. The sj)ecimen 
was a male, (i inches lon<«-, and its stomach was estimated to be one-third full. The 
stomach contents consisted of the following': Plecoptera (stone-fly nymph.s) 15 per 
cent, Neuroptera (a dobson) 2.'i pei' cent, chironomid larvic 2 per cent, and insect 
frasi'ments 5S per cent. 

Salmo gilberti Jordan. 

Upper Kekn Lakk. — Six trout were obtained from Upper Kei'n Lake on fJuly 
lit and 21. varying in length from 7 to 19.75 inches. The stomach of the longest 
specimen was empty and only two of the others were estimated to be as much as 
half full. 

Eplu'iiii-rida. — May-fly nymphs constituted 5 per cent of the contents of one 
stomach. 

Chirmunn,id». — One stomach contained 25 per cent chironomid larya-. 

Hymenoptera. — The contents of one stomach consisted of B per cent ants and 2 
per cent other Hymenoptei'a. 

hisecf fnuiinentx. — Most of the insect fragments were too small for identitication. 
These small fragments constituted 9-1 per cent of the contents of one stomach, 93 per 
cent of anothei'. 5() per cent of another, and 10 per cent of each of two othei's. 

Ycgrfdhlc hinlfer. — Ninety per cent of the contents of one stomach consisted of 
pieces-of a Batrdchluin which was growing ai)undantly in the lake; another contained 
90 percent Batravhiinn and alga^ another 25 percent vegetable matter, and a fourth 
2 per cent Batnivluum. 

Sand. — Sand constituted 1 per cent of the contents of one stomach. 
The average percentages for these Upper Kern Lake specimens are as follows: 
Ephemerida (May-fly nymphs) 1, chironomid larva' 5, Hymenoptei'a 1, insect frag- 
ments 51.-1, vegetable matter 41.-1, sand 0.2. The (^hief characteristic of these aver- 
ages is the high percentage of vegetable matter. 

Keun Kivek. — One specimen, a female 11 inches long, was caught about a mile 
above Upper Kern Lake on July 21. Its stomach contained Plecoptera (stone-Hy 
nymphs) L5 per cent, Neuroptera (a dobson) 30 per cent, Coleoptera (beetle remains) 
2 i)er ccTit, and insect fragments 36 ])ei' cent. 

Salmo roosevelti Evermann. 

Volcano Creek. — Eighteen golden trout were obtained from Volcano Creek on 
July 22 and 23, 1904, all caught in the lower course of the creek only two or thre(^ 
miles above its mouth. The longest and shortest trout measured, respectively, 1 1 and 
5 inches. The stomachs of 7 of them were estimated to be half full or more, while 
the others were only a quarter to a third full. 

Arcichnlda. — Spiders constituted 5 per cent of the contents of 1 stomach. 

Ephemerida. — Two to 10 per cent of the contents of 7 stomachs consisted of 
adult Ma}' flies and 12 stomachs contained from 1 to 30 per cent May -fly nymphs. 



48 BULLETIN OF THK KUKKAU OF FISHERIES. 

Plicoptcra. — Three .stoiiiaeli.s c-ontiiiiuMl 10, 5, and 2 pei- cent adult .stone flics 
and liJ from 8 to 25 per eont .stone-fly nymphs. 

Oiiliiiptcra. — The .stomach eontentts of 4 trout con.sisted of 50, (5, 5, and 2 per 
ecnt piece.s of gra.sshoppcrs (locusts). 

Ileiiiiptei'ii. — Five stomachs contained 0.25 to 2 per cent Heniiptera. 

Tricliopti'i-it. — The contents of 5 stomachs consisted of 4o, is, 10, 5, and 2 per 
cent adult caddis flies; 12 contained from 0.25 to 15 per cent caddis-fly larv;e. and 
14 contained larval cases varying in amount from 1 to 25 per cent. 

Li'pidoptera. — Eight per cent of the contents of 1 stomach consisted of remains 
of moths. 

Chifononildx. — Eight specinuMis iiad eaten fiom 0.5 to JS per cent chironomid 
larvte. 

('oleoptera. — Beetles constituted 1 U) '.\ per cent of the stomach contents of 7 
specimens, and larviv of diving beetles (water tigers) constituted from ;-! to 8 per cent 
of the contents of 7 specimens. 5 of which contained no other Coleoptera. 

Iltjiufnujifcra. — Ants constituted from 1 to 20 per I'ent of the stomach contents 
of 13 specimens. 

Insert fr<(gnii'idK. — From 1 to 88 per cent of the contents of all the .stomachs con- 
sisted of small fragments of insects. 

Vegetdb/e itiatter. — Two stomachs contained 8 per cent \-egetable matter, one 5 
per cent, two 1 per cent, and one 0.5 ])er cent. 

Sand. — The stomach contents of 9 individuals con.sisted of 1 to 60 per cent .sand, 
which was dei'ived chiefly from the cases of insect larvte'and pupte. 

The average percentages for these 18 golden trout are as follows: Arachnida 
U.2it, Ephemerida (May-fly nymphs) 7, Plecoptera (adult stone flies and nymphs) 12.2, 
Orthoptera 3.5, Heniiptera 0.27, adult and larval Trichoptera 7.22, cases of larval 
Trichoptera 7, Lepidoptera (moths) 0.45, DiptcraO.9, chironomid larvse 1.5, Coleoptera 
2.67, Hymenoptera (ants) 4.1, insect fragments 41. U, vegetable matter 1.3, .sand 9.7. 
These percentages show that the most important elements of the food of the golden 
trout at the time the.se specimens were caught wei'e May-flj- nymphs, adult stone 
flies and nj'mphs, and adult caddis-flies and larva>. Ants I'anked next in importance. 
Only two of these stomachs contained threadworms (Nematoda). 

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS. 

If the foregoing results may bo taken as representative of the various streams 
from which these specimens were obtained, the trout in them wei-e dependent almost 
wholly on insect life for their food at the time these investigations were made. 
In fact, judging from the scarcity of other animal forms that might serve as food, 
adult insects and the aquatic larvte of insects must play a very important role in the 
food supply of these trout during the entire year. It is possible, of course, that the 
small trout may be eaten by the larger ones at times, but no such canni))alistic 
tendencies wei'e found among the .specimens examined, the only indication of canni- 
balism noted being the single trout egg eaten by one specimen. 

The relative importance of the different groups of insects was very different in 
the different localities. The specimens from the South Fork of the Kaweali River 



THK OOLDKN TKoUT. 49 

had led most iilnuidiintly on trichopter larva', chiroiioiiiid larva' and piq)*, and 
Colcoptora; trichopter larva? ranked highest with the trout from Soda Creek, with 
adult stone-Hies and i^ymphs second in importance; those from the Little Kern River 
had partaken most freely of Coleoptera (beetles) and Hj-menoptera (ants); and the 
golden trout had fed most freely on May-fly nymphs, adult stone-Hies and nymphs, 
and adult and larval Trichoptei'a. 'I'hese investigations were ni)t sufficient to deter- 
mine whether these diti'crences in diet were due to a choice of food hy the trout or 
whether they were the result of ditl'erenoes in the distribution of the diiierent kinds 
of insects resulting from local condition,^. The latter was probably a very important 
factor in producing these differences, as it was noted that the acjuafic larva' varied, 
not only in actual numbers but also in I'elative abundance, in the difi'erent localities. 

Vegetable matter formed a comparatively small part of the stomach contents of 
the specimens obtained from streams, and probably much of this was taken by 
accident. Three of the trout from Upper Kern Lake, however, contained consider- 
able quantities of vegetable matter, so that part of it, at least, nnist have been taken 
ptu'posely. 

Li the cases where the sex was noted there was no apparent didercnce in the 
diet of the male and female. 

('LAI)O('EKA AND CJOPErODA OF TIIK KEKN ItlA'ER I!F<;(;i<)N. 

Cladocera. — The Cladocera collected in upper Kern Lake on July 20 represented 
only two forms, Em'yc&i'cuK JduiclhttKs O. F. Miiller and Clnjdoriis .•<pAxnriii< O. F. 
Miiller, which, however, were abundant. 

The material collected from Hockett Lakes on ,lidy 1<) contained the following 
Cladocera, which, with tlu; exception of Duplmin arid I'olijplii'uiitx^ were abundant: 

Dldjiliaiioxoiiia li'iivldcnherginnmn Fischer. This form apparently belongs to 
Lilljeborg's vai'iety iniyidopx. The head is narrow and its ventral margin is concave 
in some specimens, just as shown in figure 7, plate iv, C^ladocera Suecia\ The eye is 
large, about tive-sixths of the width of the anterior pari of the head. 

Daplmla longlspina O. F. JMiiller. 

Scaphalehens mucronata O. F. Miiller. 

Sinocephalm seri'vlaf.m O. F. Miiller. 

Ceriodaplinia ■pnh'heUd Sars. 

Strehlocii^uii seiTicandatui^ Fisclx^r. 

Eurycercm lainellatnii O. F. Miiller. 

Lijnceus uffinls Ley dig. 

Chydoni^^ xphxricnsO. F. Miiller. 

Pal yplwiihim pedivulus Linnauis. 

Co]K'poda.~ Dr. C. Dwight Marsh has ident ified the following copeijods collected 
in Kern Lake and Hockett Lakes: 

From Kern Lake, (Cyclops Kerndidiix Fischer and ( 'yfl<)j>.\ idhidun , I urine. 

From Hockett Lakes, (h/cld/tKNerridatus iiuiiitaiius Brady, C'yc/ops all/idui: J nvine, 
and Uiaptoiuitd sigincaiulu Lilljcborg. 

B. B. F. im")— 1 



50 HULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHiiKIES. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Follow! 111.;- is ;i list of the })iililislio(l litciaturi' coiiccriiiiiL;' tli(>, trout of the Kern 
River re<;'i()ii which lias hceii cniisiiltcd in coniiectioii with this report: 

iS/S. JoHDAN, D.wiiiS., and IIensmaw, 11. W. Kcimrt upon the li.sluw collected duriiif; the years 

1S75, 1(S7H, and IS77, in CalilVirnia and Nt'viida. ■ Reportof the Chief Engineers, U. S. Army, for 

1878, Appen(Hx K in Api)endi.K NN, pp. l(i09-UJ22, i>ls. i-iv. 
On pages 161t) and ltil7, reference is made to specimens of trout fi-oni " near Mount Whitney, 

Inyo County, Cal.," in 1875, and a very interesting account of the "fioldcn trout" is given by 

Mr. Henshaw. Mr. Hcnshaw states that liis specimens came from the South Fork of the Kern. 
189.1. (tii.hekt, Charles II. Report on the tislies of the Deatli Valley expedition, collected in southern 

California and Nevada in 1891, with descriptions of new species. <North American Fauna, no. 7, 

May 31, 1893, pp. 229-234. 

Short notes on Snhno iridiim and .V niiik-is.i nr/nn-hiniitd. 
1893. Jordan, David S. A de.scription of the golden trout of Kern River, California, Sahno mykiss 

agna-bonita. <Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., xv, 1892 (July 24, 1893), 481^83. 
189ti. Jordan, David Starr, and F.vermanx, Bartos Wakhen. The fishes of North and Middle 

America, pt. i, pp. .502-504, 1896 (Octoljer 3). 
1897. Broder, John. Among the Sierra Nevadas. <Thc .Vmerican .\ngler, vol. xxvii, no. 2, Fel)- 

ruary, 1897, pp. 35-40. 

References to the various fronts of the Mount Whitney region (size, numbers, eti'. ), with a 

mention of tlie golden trout, p. 3(i. 
1S97. Harris, William C. Planting trout in the Sierras. <The American Angler, vol. wvii, no. 2, 

February, 1897, pp. KO and HI. Kilitorial, in Notes and Queries, giving an account of jilantings 

of golden trout in the Mount Whitney region by John Broder, of Visalia, Cal. 
1897. . The Kern River and golden trout. <The American .\ngler, vol. wvii, no. 3, 

March, 1897, p. 91, in Notes and tiueries. 
1897. Broder, John. How to reach the Kern Rivers, California. <The American .\ngler, vol. 

xxvii, no. 4, April, 1897, pp. 99-103. 
Description of the country, with numerous incidental references to trout tishing. Reference 

also, p. 102, to the lakes having been stocked with trout. 

1897. . A tish-loving community. <The .\merican Angler, vol. xxvii, no. 4, April, 

• 1897, pp. 123 and 124. 

Speaks of sportsmen's clubs of the region and their work in planting trout. 

1902. Jordan, David Starr, and Evehmaxn, Bartox Warrex. American food and game fishes, 
pp. 201-202, Doubleday, Page & Co., New York, 1902. 

1903. Hittell, Theodore H. On the tip-top of the United States. <Sunsel Aluira/.ine, vol. x, 
no. 4, February, 1903, pp. 294-303. 

Description of a trip of a party up Jlount Whitney. General description of the country and 
brief description of the golden trout on )). 303. 

1903. ■_ . The country of the golden trout. <Mount Whitney Club .lounial, vol. i, no. 2, 

May, 1903, pp. 41-46. 

Gives a brief description of the golden trout (size, color, llavor, and explanation of color, also 
foresees that the numbers will become exhausted). 
1903. Norboe, p. M. Trails into the Mount Whitney and Kern River regions. <Mouut Whitney 
Club Journal, vol. i, no. 2, May, 1903, pp. 60-71. 

Mainly a description of the country from a guide's or tourist's point of view, with occasional 
and rather incidental references to fishes and fishing. 

1903. Maddox, Ben M. Itinerary of trip to Mount Whitney. <Mount AVhilney Club Journal, 
vol. I, no. 2, May, 1903, pp. 75-78. 

Diary account of various camps, with frequent references to fishes and iishing. 

1904. Allen, A. H. With the Sierra Club to Mount Whitney. <Mount Whitney Club Journal, 
vol. I, no. 3, May, 1904, pp. 114-121. 

De.scription of a trip to Mount Whitney, July 9, 1903, with touii.st's description of the region. 
Mentions the capture of 600 or 700 golden trout by the jiarty, p. 115. 



THK (4(lLDEN TKoUT. 51 

lit04. Edwards, K. H. The MdUiit Whitney trail. <Muunt Whitney t'hili .loiiriial, vol. i, no. S, 
May, 1904, pp. 127-129. 

Mainly a de.scription of the country. References to. the golden trout, |i. 12S. 

1904. Lawson, Andrew C. The geoniorphogeny of the upper Kern Basin. l'niver.<ity of Cali- 
fornia Publications. Bulletin of the Department of Geology, vol. a, no. 1.5, pp. 291-S7(), February, 

1904. Berkeley, The University Press. 

An exhaustive discussion of the geology of the Mount Whitney region. 
1904. White, Stewart Edward. The golden trout, (Chap. XX of a serial, "The Mountains.") 
<The Outlook, vol. 78, no. 2, September 10, 1904, pp. 131 and 182. 

1904. Kvermann, Barton W., The golden trout of Volcano C'reek. ■ The .Xmerican Fish CHilturisI, 
vol. I, no. 10, October, 1904, i>p. 5-7. 

An account of a trip to the Mount Whitney region, with ob.servations concerning the nature of 
the country and kinds of trout of the various streams. 
1905. . The most beautiful of all the trouts. Shields' Magazine, vol. i, no. 4, .Tune, 

1905, pp. 105-109. 

An account of a trip to the Mount Whitney region, including a description of the country. The 
same article was republished under the heading "Volcano Creek Golden Trout," in the Visalia 
Daily Times (Visalia, Cal.), vol. x.wiii, no. 118, July 12, 1905. 

1905. . The golden trout of Volcano Creek. <Transactions American Fisheries Society 

1905, pp. 148-154. 

1905. Forked Deek. Our quest of the golden trout. 'Forest and Stream, vol. l.vv, no. 13, Sept. 23, 
1905, pp. 254 and 255. 

An interesting account of a trip to Volcano Creek. 



^/S 




V Trout 



